Sorry if I’ve been quiet.
I’ve just returned (for a brief trip) to the States and the 16-hour trip around the world has taken the type right out of me.
Be assured. I’m doing a whole lot of this…
*****
(world photogallery) (about sol) (some stories) (LeapNow.org) (travel disclaimer) (packing list)  (photogallery guestbook)  (blogger profile) (World Nomads Travel Insurance) (WhereThereBeDragons.com)
…that I’m so busy closing the semester and preparing the students for an American-reality re-integration, that I haven’t had time to type.
But I’ll be heading solo-style to Southern India this week and my fingers will finally again find their tap dance on the blog dance floor. 
(world photogallery) (about sol) (some stories) (LeapNow.org) (travel disclaimer) (packing list)  (photogallery guestbook)  (blogger profile) (World Nomads Travel Insurance) (WhereThereBeDragons.com)
The perpetual pilgrim walks into her first winter (and snow) in over nine years!
Is she happy? Do you think?
*!!!*
What can of dorky-ass leader makes her group make a pyramid in front of a pyradmid…
he he.
The problem with 1st drafts is that I want to shred them into pieces as soon as the 2nd drafts are composed. So please consider what existed here before as… shredded.
The 2nd draft is posted below. Scroll down to view it!
And bring a cup of coffee.
sol
(Old But Updated “Packing List” from the solbeam.com Archives)
So, wondering how you pack everything you need for a year into one backpack?
Some people find this process challenging and stressful, but I love it! Travel stores are like Disneyland. I can get lost for hours in the isles of water filters, bag locks, country guides and rust-proof-pants. (I was even offered a job during my last escapade at Adventure 16.) There is, of course, a lot of research that goes into picking each item that claims precious space in a pack. Learning how and what to pack from the process of trial and error is the natural way, but CAN lose its charm when you’re camping in the jungle and wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and realize you forgot your flashlight. It’s for this reason that I am offering up my own learnings presented in this basic “Packing List.”
But caution! This should only be used as a guide, and if it should fail you in anyway, please resist the urge to send me hate mail holding me responsible. That said, Happy Packing!
Clothing: The clothes you pack are highly dependent on many factors, including, but not limited to: destination, weather, activities, season, formality, style, length of stay, washing resources and budget. Here’s some general advice: Stay away from cotton. It’s heavy, it wrinkles, it’s hard to wash and dry and it starts smelling bad, fast. Opt for nylon or polyester blends, which dry super fast, are easy to wash, don’t hold stains and don’t wrinkle. Dark and neutral colors are best. I know it’s hard…but ditch the denim also. That stuff is heavy and takes days to dry. If you have the cash, the special “back-packing” clothing can be worth the money. On my first trips, I just brought a bunch of old stuff I knew I could throw away (and did). On my latest year abroad, I dipped into the savings account and invested in the gear with extra zippers, extra air-pockets, special linings, super fast-dry fabrics and easy-clean materials. The people who make this stuff KNOW what they’re doing. Everything took up about an inch of space in my pack and I was never too cold or hot, always dry (yea Gor-Tex) and my gear cleaned up in two minutes in the sink. AND it survived the year in perfect condition and sits ready for my next adventure. If you’re going though Europe or cities with kickin’ nightlife, you’re gonna need something that looks nice. The easiest way to do this is to just “go black.” I found that in Central & South America, there just isn’t as much shame in looking like a traveler. First time travelers ALWAYS pack twice as much as they need and end up shipping half of it home. Try your hardest to keep your selection simple and remember — you can almost ALWAYS buy what you need abroad (should you REALLY need it).
Super-Absorbent Travel Towel: Most of my tricks revolve around saving space in my pack, as this one does. You can get one of these towels at some travel stores and they usually carry them at those high-tech stores like Brookstone. Regular towels take up a LOT of space in your pack, take forever to dry and start smelling rank fast. These special towels are super-absorbent, very lightweight, and dry in an instant. I bought the smaller sized one in green (try to avoid white completely when it comes to packing) and it successfully survived my entire year in Central America in perfect shape.
Silk Sleep Sack: Okay. THIS is a luxury item. If you’re staying in hostels, you should have *or make* a sleep sack. For those on a budget, you can make one simply by sewing two sheets together or you can pick one up at any travel store. Many hostels charge you for renting sheets, and you can save big cash by bringing one of these. They also keep you safe from “suspicious” sleeping quarters. You don’t want to hear the stories of the things some travelers have “caught” in hostels. (Bed bugs are NOT only fictional characters in bedtime rhymes.) I also jumped in mine on long train rides, while sleeping in stations/on ferries and stuffed it as a pillow on bumpy busses and the like. My starchy cotton sleep sheet worked swell, but it wasn’t the most comfortable, it didn’t keep me warm and it took up a lot of space in my pack. Solution? The Silk Sleep Sack. *rolls eyes in ecstasy*. Silk insulates you better, cleans easier, takes up NO space at all in your pack…and FEELS absolutely incredible. Yes, it’ll cost you about 40 bucks more than the cotton one, but if you’re doing serious traveling, it’s worth the cost for the extra comfort and added space in your pack. (You can order one from REI online.)
Shoes: Shoes are heavy, hard to pack and stink when wet. I always end up ditching a pair. Again, pay the extra buck. Comfort counts here more than you’ll ever know. Here’s what I take: 1. A pair of Chaco sandals and 2. A pair of superb quality, hiking shoes/boots. My Chacos are my favorite shoes in the world. I’d cry if I lost them. These sandals work for beaches, showers, mountains, caves, rivers, and won’t even slip when you’re hiking in mud. Perfect for traveling, as you’ll notice when you see EVERYONE else on the road sporting them. (If you don’t bring sandals of some sort, make sure to bring something flip-flop-like for the hostel showers. Trust me on this.)
Money Belt: You have to bring a money belt. I’ve tried a variety of styles and have settled on the waist style in black (never looks dirty). Don’t get lazy and start wearing it outside your clothes — it will get stolen.
Daypack: A small daypack or backpack is a necessity. Something that you can use to carry your guide book, camera, water and poncho on short outings. Remember to sling shoulder strap bags across your body and to turn backpacks to the front in crowded subways and busy streets. Watch out for bag-slashers.
Camera: You don’t have to be a web geek like myself to recognize that digital cameras are THE way to go for the future of travel photography. No film, the guarantee of perfect pictures, and the ability to send photos home to family & friends instantly are just a few of the perks.
Leatherman Tool: It’s an insult to call a Leatherman Tool a pocketknife, but for lack of a better word I’ll use the term. They are the best and highest quality multi-purpose tool on the market. Get a “Micra” for your pocket and the standard sizes for your pack. This is THE travelers’ tool – all by all will swear.
Money: If you’re traveling in Europe, forget the travelers checks. What’s more important, is a debit card (accepted virtually everywhere), some hard cash (in small denominations) and a couple credit cards. Know your pin number. Everyone runs out of money — it’s a fact. You can make cash withdrawals on your credit card IF you suddenly “must” spend an extra two weeks in Amsterdam. Travelers checks are a necessity in Central America, South America (and many other countries). Do your basic research to learn availability of ATMs in you destination countries. Commonly quoted travelers’ rule of thumb: “When you’re ready to go, lay out all your gear and money and then RE-pack half as many clothes and twice as much money.”
Photocopies: Bring copies of your passport, airline ticket, rail pass, drivers license, student I.D., hostel card, ISIC card, etc. The sheer act of having photocopies — pretty much guarantees you won’t lose the originals. Give your copies to your travel mate or put them in a separate piece of luggage. Personally, I just make “virtual” copies and hold them in my e-mail inbox.
Ziplock Bags: In all sizes. Things will leak, explode, get wet and smell. But the Ziplock gods will spare you many of these messes should you pay them homage at the supermarket pre-trip.
Travel Alarm: You’ll need this when you fall asleep on the train in order to wake up in time for your stop. Even better if you just buy a plastic (to avoid the illusion of being expensive) watch with built in alarms.
First-Aid Kit: Make sure to include: Band-Aids in all sizes, bug-bite repellent and relief, scrape ointment, sewing kit, Tylenol, couple days worth of cold medicine, Pepto-Bismol tablets, malaria pills *if needed*, all your prescriptive allergy medicine and birth control. Infections never heal abroad. Take care of your scrapes.
Glasses: Sun AND prescriptive. Make sure to bring a sink plug if you have contacts.
Bathroom Bag: Get one made especially for traveling. The best are the ones with the hook on top so you don’t have to lay it down on any wet or suspicious surfaces. Put all squeeze bottles in zip-lock baggies during flights. Do bring a package of “Wet-Ones” to clean up hands and face when you’re waterless. Bring soap — liquid for the shower and a laundry bar for your clothes.
Travel Guides: Have each travel mate bring a different guide. I recommend both the “Lonely Planet” and “Rough Guide” series.
Distribution List: Before you leave, remember to put together an e-mail distribution list. One list of friends. One list of family. And content-appropriate news updates to each.
Travel Journal: Use it for everything: travel expenses, travel diary, scrap book, photo albums and address book. I tape/glue in old tickets and extra spectacular postcards and encourage new friends to get artistic. Bring a couple pictures of your home, family and best mates to share with new friends. My journals are my most prized possession from each of my trips and I look forward to reviewing them in my rocking chair when I’m 80.
Book: IF you do ever get tired of lookin’ out the window of the train/bus, and you’ve already studied the guide for the country you’re going to next, you might want some other form of entertainment. Hostels and other travelers are also always happy to trade and exchange literature.
Locks for your Pack: I use a small, code lock (preferred over key locks which can get misplaced too easily) that was attached to a metal cord. It was perfect and I highly recommended this method. I could tie it up to anything or just loop it through all the zippers.
Flashlight: For late night reading after “lights-out”, walking dark paths, or going to the bathroom in the middle of the night when you’re camping.
The Backpack: Paying a premium price for my premium pack was perhaps the best packing decision I’ve ever made. This is your most important investment for your trip. Spend good time researching the pack that meets your needs (and everyones needs differ). Talk to sales reps, guides and friends. Research and shop around. For all my travels I’ve used a very small Dana pack that was actually “molded” to my back. The added comfort was worth every extra penny. My pack and I have shared multiple adventures, I treat it as a best friend, and I won’t be the first traveler to admit to talking to it….or rather, “hearing” it calling me from the closet enticing me into my next adventure. And my best advice; Always listen to your pack.
“How could they tell the future from the wind?”
“I don’t know. Maybe the same way a painter can tell the future of his painting by staring at the canvas.”
– Robert Pirsig, “Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”
*****
I’m staring at my canvas….and the vision thrills me.
Big news coming….
: : : What Is This?
THIS is a live travel journal documenting the international pursuit of a Personal Legend.
A “personal legend” is a term coined by Paulo Coelho in one of my favorite fables “The Alchemist.”
“…whoever you are, whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it’s because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It’s your mission on earth. To realize one’s Personal Legend is a person’s only real obligation.” – “The Alchemist“, Paulo Coelho
Of course, I don’t feel as if I KNOW anything, let alone my “mission” on earth. But what I do FEEL — is that I must move. Pursue. As for WHAT I am pursuing, I haven’t any concrete idea. Nor am I really all that interested in what prize my hunt may capture. It’s the “pursuit” itself that has thus far enticed me into over 20 months of unforgettable adventure through Holland, Germany, Austria, Poland, Spain, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, France, Peru, Brazil, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Mexico, Cuba, S. Korea, Japan, and Thailand. It’s the pursuit that ignited my passions for community work, the dance of salsa, scuba diving and island life. It’s the “pursuit” that has taught me lessons on life that I searched for, but never found, in my textbooks at university. It’s the “pursuit” that has humbled me both as an American, and as a human being. It is in the “pursuit” that I found an awe-inspired and overwhelming respect for the intelligence of nature. And it is in the solo pursuit, that I found self-dependency, and thus, unlimited personal freedom. It’s the “pursuit” itself that ignites something in my soul.
So THIS is simply my way of combining my greatest passions: travel, writing, and the web. I have no inspirations of being entertaining, making money, being popular or enlightening anyone. I’m just documenting my travel adventures, as well as the progressive realizations made on the path of my pursuit, and inviting anyone along for the ride.
: : : Where Are You Going Next?
“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost. The world will not have it. Keep the channel open, follow your heart, and everything else will take care of itself.” – (?)
I love those three words — a “vitality”, a “life force”, a “quickening within” — for they come the closest to describing that feeling that moves me to make the choices I do. Why Guatemala? Why Spain? Why by boat? Why by plane? Why here? Why him? Why her? Why then? My choices and directions in life have become increasingly dependent on that “quickening within.” But with each decision, Intuition has reaffirmed that my trust in her is secure and worthy. I once saw a sign in a beach town in Costa Rica that read, “A true traveler is never intent on reaching a destination and knows that his best adventures are usually found off the original path.” Where am I going next? Where the omens and opportunity lead me.
Ambiguous answer having been stated… Spain, India and Australia has been whispering sweet nothings into my ear….and I am falling for the flirt.
: : : How it Started
About two years ago, I bought a plane ticket to Costa Rica and sat down with my boss to tell him I was taking a month of vacation from work.
“No you’re not.” He said.
“Yes, I am.” I told him.
*very long pause*
“No you’re not.” He continued. “You have two weeks of paid vacation that you’ve already used. This is THE most critical time for this company. It is unfathomable that you take leave right now. Maybe in six months we can consider some extended vacation. But right now? Absolutely impossible.”
I went. And when I returned from that life-altering adventure my boss said, “Well. You were right. Everything worked out smoothly, and looking back now, there was NO better time that you could have taken leave.” (Of course, at the time, neither of us was expecting that month abroad to inspire my complete resignation and the purchase of open-ended ticket to Guatemala…)
Regardless, I think it was that confrontational day that my self-erected wall of “life rules” came crashing down, along with the authority in the words “impossible”, “unfathomable”, “absolutely” and “no.” There are so many rules of life that we just never question. We have so many freedoms that we never exercise simply because we’ve never tugged at the phantom-chains that bind them. Of course, the first time I challenged those rules, the notion seemed nothing but comical…
“Ha! Imagine what my boss would say if I just bought a ticket to Costa Rica and left for a month!”
“How crazy would it be for me to just quit my job and travel for a year! What a dream!”
“What a silly thought…me? A scuba divemaster? I could never be a divemaster….”
OR…Could I?
The first time “I could never” turned into “hell! I just did!” — life irreversibly changed. Why? Because for one, I figured out that this world, this society, this system, didn’t REALLY care about my individual life. I had broken “the rules” and the gates of hell did not open and consume me, I wasn’t arrested and sent to jail, my parents didn’t ground me, my friends didn’t disown me, and my boss didn’t fire me. I had slipped right through the societal-cracks and landed on two free feet. My “silly notions”, “dreams” if you may, were perfectly real and attainable — and I had every right in this world to move my free feet and take pursuit of them. Now I take my “silly ideas” more seriously than Newton’s laws of physics. They STILL always start off as laughable, but now that the pattern has been recognized, my giggles quickly transition to a grin and a “oh no, here it comes!” nervous anticipation of an oncoming challenge. Now I know — and can recognize — my most wild but “serious intentions” masquerading in the sheeps’ wools of “silly notions.”
In December of 2000, I resigned from my position as Senior Editor at CollegeClub.com and bought an open-ended ticket to Guatemala, whereupon MercuryFrog posed the following “comical” question:
“Why don’t I build you a site so that you can write about your adventures and share them with your online community as you experience them?”
My laugh quickly turned into a serious grin.
Solbeam.com was born in January of 2001 by the kindness and talent of MercuryFrog. (Merc is both the developer and designer of this site, and compliments should be sent directly to him.) It should also be noted that Merc is continuously and selflessly facilitating the dream chasing process for numerous individuals *beside myself* and that he has secured his place in the “Solbeam’s Exceptional Human Beings” Hall of Fame as well as his place in “heaven”, should one exist.
You have my endless gratitude Merc.
Since January of 2001, those of you watching this site have adventured with me through Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Cuba, Korea and Thailand together. We learned Spanish and how to salsa together. We scuba dived off Cayes, in oceans, through Cenotes and into sink holes together. We learned to bartend and danced on tabletops together. We were robbed at gunpoint together. We chased sharks and stingrays together. We raved on bay islands together. We battled with hairy spiders, sand flies, lice and scorpions together. We volunteered with children of a dumpster community together. We mediated and fasted at a retreat center together. We hiked volcanoes together and watched them erupt together. We got on wrong planes together. We rock climbed together and we boogie-boarded together. We caught Ameobas and suffered numerous colds and mysterious skin infections together. We taught English and survived monsoons together. We got in motorbike accidents and ate a lot of Thai food together. And we shared multiple sunrises and sunsets together. You laughed with me. You cried with me. You danced with me. You learned with me. You supported me and you believed in me. I would like to give my ENDLESS thanks to all those of you who keep up with this site and have shared those experiences with me. Because IT is the only physical thing I have to grasp on to after returning from those adventures. How I could ever give any inch of accurate representation of my travels abroad “over coffee” is inconceivable. “You just had to be there” will have to suffice many inquisitions…but for those of you who WERE there, WITH me, my mind can smile and sigh in relief. I’m not so alone after all. And for that ease of heart and mind, I have you to thank.
And thus we proceed with the “Continued Adventures of Solbeam.com 2002-2003″…
: : : Who Are You?
My parents would say I’m their 25-year-old daughter that they gave birth to in Anchorage, Alaska and raised in Portland, Oregon. I’d be the one child that insisted on school in California where, since my departure, they’ve received phone calls about once a month *if lucky* — usually only alerting them to my next skydive or adventure abroad. They don’t “get” the navel ring. In comparison to my three happily-married and “home-body” siblings, I’m certainly the “black sheep” of the family. My high school friends would probably say I’m the “late-bloomer.” While they experimented with boys, drugs and other freedoms, I was busy pullin’ a 3.9 GPA and a strict midnight curfew. In college, I was the “girlfriend.” I dated the same *fantastic* guy from week three of college through graduation day. While I never, for one second, regret that choice — I currently have a *possibly unhealthy* aversion to relationships and tend to avoid commitments to anything more than a lunch date… made at 11:45.
When I graduated, I spend a few months in Europe and returned with some hefty credit card bills that needed immediate attention. I fit everything that I owned into my car and drove down to San Diego where I had heard that it was 75 degrees year ’round. I landed a job at CollegeClub.com, having no idea that it that would forever change my life; “Travel Freak Becomes Web Geek”. I put in 80-hour weeks *under web cam surveillance* and was labeled “loco” by friends & family and “passionate” by co-workers. In December of 2000, I put in my resignation and purchased a one-year ticket to Central America. I was ready to leave my country, but not my virtual community – and thus, Solbeam.com was created.
: : : What Does “Solbeam” Mean?
Solbeam was my username on CollegeClub and was what the CC Community knew me as. “Sol” means “sun” in Spanish. My skin color most likely comes from my Spanish ancestors (rather than the German ones). In addition to being a complete sucker for sunsets (and rises), the sun holds special significance for me as it was what led me from Oregon to North California, from North Cal. to South Cal., and from Cal. to Central America. When I come to crossroads in life, both figurative and literal, regardless of how more or less traveled they are, I opt for the path with the most light, the most warmth…the most “sol.”
: : : What Kind Of Digital Camera Are You Using?
To date, I have owned SEVEN different digital cameras. The first four I bought and sold as fast as the technology became outdated, because *quite admittedly*…I’m digitoy obsessed. The last three were all removed from my ownership by shady Guatemalan characters by the use of bag-slashings, mail interception, and guns. I am obviously honey to the thieving-bears. Although I have dearly loved the Sony Mavica line because of the fact that the cameras use standard floppy disks that allow for me to download pictures anywhere I can find a PC, I’m afraid the size of these cameras does nothing short of scream, “Steal Me!”. So as I prepare to embark on yet another year of travels, I ask NOT what shady characters will do for me, but what I can HIDE in my SHOE from shady characters. In June ’02 , I purchased the Minolta Dimage X, the smallest digital camera on the market, weighing in at a hefty 5 ounces and standing an entire 3 inches in height and 1/2 inch in width. So far, I find this digicam super handy. And seeing as it is about as conspicuous as a stick of gum, it goes with me everywhere (…important for a person frequenting high crime areas).
: : : Why Don’t You Date?
I’m answering this question for the record, only because I get asked it so many times. In this world, I see too many people searching for themselves in others, and that, to me, is just another faulty equation. I don’t fear or dislike men. In fact, I relate to them much better than I do most women. I like people who are straightforward and low maintenance, which tend to be more masculine characteristics. Really, I’m just too busy figuring out myself and realizing my own dreams to compromise for someone else. I date Life everyday, and for the time being, IT is the only relationship that I allow to consume my time, energy, passion and heart. My attitude may change someday, but for right now, I’m quite content with my solo-style.
: : : Can You Give Me Some Advice on Where to Travel?
I’m sorry, but I do NOT give out any specific advice or recommendations on places to go for one very good reason; Travel is extremely circumstantial. Each person’s adventure is totally unique and completely dependent on multiple factors including, but not limited to: weather, health, holiday, attitude, company, length of stay, and financial situation. If you want advice on specific places to go, I recommend you simply research online (LonelyPlanet.com, Iexplore.com, About.com) or browse through the Travel section at your local bookstore. As for travel guidebooks, I recommend both the Lonely Planet and Rough Guide series.
: : : Are You Traveling With Anyone?
This is another ambiguous question. Am I traveling with one person (or friend) for my whole trip? No. I prefer to travel “alone.” But that’s the funny thing about traveling. By traveling “alone”, you actually meet MORE people. Travelers seek each other out. But what is probably more important, is that on the road — you are surrounded by others who share the same passions in life and who find the same excitement in the pursuit of something “different.” On the road, we’re all alone, all “in between” careers, all out of our element, and all vacationing from societal influence. And I’m learning that as wonderful as being “independent” and “alone” and “different” are, there is also something so very special about finding a community of people who share your same tastes at the dining table of life.
: : : Where Did You Get All The Money To Be Able To Travel?
This is the biggest complaint I hear; “I would travel…if only I had the money.”
I pay for ALL my travel expenses.
Please don’t think for a second that I’m pracin’ around on Dad’s plastic. My parents “taught me the value of a dollar” by letting me pay my university tuition (at a private school no less). Not a chance they were about to finance my world stomp. I still have thousands of dollars in school loans yet to be paid back. (You CAN usually defer your school loans for up to three years.) Why am I telling you about my financial situation? Because I want to emphasize that anyone who REALLY wants to travel – can.
If you want something, you do what it takes to get it. I saved. I’ve chosen “travel” as my treat. I count my money in days spent abroad. I don’t have a stereo in my car and I slept on a futon for the first six months that I lived in San Diego until I was handed down a bed. I’d simply rather spend that money on airfare, hostels or bread & cheese. I understand the tradeoffs and have made a choice. Anyone can travel if they want to, all it depends on, is how bad he or she really wants it.
And one of the biggest myths of travel is that it’s expensive. A person can travel easily on $10-30 dollars a day in Central America – or even Europe if you’re keen on bread and cool with dorm rooms. You won’t be a “tourist”; You’ll be a traveler. Your daily expenses (rent, food, clothing, entertainment) in The States surely amount to more than $30 dollars a day. (Please don’t e-mail me and ask me to explain this further or tell me it’s not possible *people often do*. It IS possible, but I really don’t feel obligated to give proofs or find deals for people.)
In addition to saving a lot and spending little, I always work while traveling abroad. Bartending, volunteering (in exchange for room), working as a divemaster, teaching English, and guiding groups were means that were not only gentle on the savings account, but also rewarding cultural experiences. When I first started working abroad, I didn’t have any experience and knew very little of the local language. All it takes is desire and initiative. You can search for jobs abroad online before you depart (I’ve found three jobs to date through GoAbroad.com), or just go door-knockin’ at all the bars and restaurants in town until you come up with something. And if you’re really looking, something ALWAYS turns up.
: : : How Do You Have So Much Time To Travel?
It’s not about “having” time, but rather “making” time. You just put you stake in the ground and say, “this is what I’m gonna do” and then you do it. No one EVER has “extra” time to travel — at least not before they’re retired. People, time, events will allow you to do whatever you wish – as soon as you make the decision to go.
“The universe always conspires to help the dreamer.” — “The Alchemist”, Paulo Coelho
When I’m abroad, I’m not “on holiday.” Travel is more than a priority in my life….it’s a way of life.
And it can be so for anyone.
: : : What Advice to You Have For a First Time Traveler?
Let nothing get in the way of your desire to travel. Buy the ticket now and worry about the details later; They WILL fall into place. Travel while you’re young. You have no commitments, your parents are healthy, and you have the back that can withstand a pack and legs that can climb a volcano. This is the only time in your life that you will enjoy staying in dorm rooms or have the gut to drink the locals’ poison into the wee hours of the morning and wake up when the rooster crows at 5am the next day to catch a bus to another country.
One of the biggest MYTHS of American society that I’ve uncovered in my travels is this; “Two weeks of vacation each year is enough.” Two weeks will never be enough. Adequate time for emotional, spiritual, physical and extracurricular development IS necessary in life. And this doesn’t mean you have to cross any actual US borders to engage yourself. “Work=life” is just a faulty equation in my book. Take time for yourself to discover and develop your passions. You need it. You deserve it. And as Americans, it’s high time we put our foot down and stomped out this socially-supported falsehood. Try questioning “The Rules” with your boss, parents, school, etc. Push a little. Pry a little. Stretch a little. Fight a little. You might be very surprised at the results.
I was.
And remember, regardless of the “where’s”, “when’s”, and “what’s” — everything WILL work out. If you miss your train/bus/plane — laugh and recognize that your adventures haven’t been lost, just changed.
: : : How Can I Contact You?
Simple. Send an e-mail to: solbeam@solbeam.com. I’m a pretty busy girl, but if you send me a note or question, I’ll try my very best to get back to you. (If I’m not stationary in a country, a reply could be delayed for a few weeks.)
Sincerely wishing you the happiest of travels,
Sol
(If you’re lookin’ for an employee, I’m always seeking new adventures in new places with new people. *And I certainly could use the funds!* Contact me at solbeam@solbeam.com. Of course, if you’re loaded, and just feel like dumping your money into the “Dream Chasin’ Schemes of Solbeam” fund, feel *very* free to do so here.)
You know that feeling after spending an all-nighter cramming for a Calc or Chemistry exam…when you’re sitting at your desk in class, reviewing all your notes as quickly as possible and trying to memorize all the formulas and equations that your short term memory can hold during those anxious *and hopefully brief* few minutes between putting your cheat sheet away and receiving the actual exam on your desk?
THAT is how I feel right now in regards to my relationship with this blog. Except for that the Prof. has told us to put our cheat sheets away, delayed the exam until next semester, and asked us all to wait patiently in our seats until then.
Here are a few of my notes that I can remember from my cheat sheet:
Date: Sept. 16th, 2002
Current Location: Sebastopol, California
Boarding At: The LEAPNow Retreat Center (w/serverly limited internet access)
Departing for Fiji: September 19th, 2002
Duration of Trip: 3 Months
Countries Covering: Fiji, Australia & New Zealand
Working As: A “Trip Co-Leader”
Realizing A: Dream
That last note, is really the most important underlying theme of the chapter. Unfortunately, I don’t have the time to write out that final long-answer essay today (and I have a feeling a bit of it is still in the research & realization stage). But it will come. Actually, something BIG is coming. I can feel it. But us intuition people are confusing like that. We know it, but we just can’t explain it.
Let’s let it churn a little.
To be continued….
You always know you’re in the Las Angeles aiport by the overabundance of anorexic girls in dark glasses trying to look like celebrities traveling incognito. But really — would Cindy or Pamela actually sport a pink cheetah cowboy hat on their day off? I don’t think so.
Time to fly around the world!