Reflection from the islands...

Bonjour mes amies!

After having spent the last several days in the country of French Polynesia, mostly the island of Moorea, I can truly say that if paradise existed on earth, it would be in this place.

About French Polynesia: French is the official language, though you will hear a lot of Tahitian, and most people know a bit of English. Tourism is the main industry here, so locals are used to meeting people from all over the world. I saw many travelers coming through the area, many honeymooning couples, some families, destination weddings, etc.

My time here in French Polynesia began when I landed in the Fa'aa airport in Tahiti at 6 in the morning. After navigating my way via bus ("Le Truck") into the city of Papeete, I caught a ferry to the nearby island of Moorea, which in Tahitian means "yellow lizard." Both Moorea and Tahiti are part of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, which as a country consists of over 1,000 different islands! Moorea is only ten miles wide at the middle, but consists of mountains in its center as it was originally formed by a volcano.There are two bays, but the rest of the island is surrounded by a lagoon.

Upon my arrival, I was welcomed by my host Laure and her six-year old son Maohi. We headed to one of the many beaches (we are on an island, after all!) which is frequented by both locals and visitors. (Side note: I highly recommend this place... restaurant, hotel, beach, scuba, kayak, etc. If you visit Moorea, look up Les Tipaniers. Also the Intercontinental Hotel, if you feel like splurging, is wonderful.) My first view of the Moorean beach:

Lagoon beach at Les Tipaniers, Moorea

As you can imagine, I was overwhelmed. However, the longer I stay on Moorea, the more I realize every moment and every scene isjust as picturesque as this one! My time has been filled exploring the island and relaxing on the beach. One day I rented a kayak and went out to snorkedl in the lagoon around the motu (small island off the coast). So many different kinds of beautiful fish! (They are beautiful, but watch out... one bit me!!! haha!) The next day I rented a bike and rode around, up to Mount Belvedere (see picture below), among ancient Polynesian ruins, to the School of Agriculture, and along Pineapple Road (see picture below). On the way back I stopped off to swim at a "public" beach (not the same as our public beaches in the US!!).

View from Mt. Belvedere, Moorea

Along Pineapple Road, Moorea (this is a pineapple plantation)

Hiking the trails on the mountain, near the ruins

Each morning I was woken by "singing" from the many roosters that inhabit the island. They don't only crow (or "sing") at sunrise, but all times of the day and night. I enjoyed island cuisine (coconut, pineapple, and papaya) as well as French-influenced food as much of the population hails from France (we had beignets one day for dessert). The people were lovely, both the locals and other visitors I met. I made new friends from California, Australia, and France, and of course from French Polynesia.




Our host Laure, with Delphine, Renault, and me


My last day in Moorea was bittersweet as I said goodbye to new friends and left "my" beautiful beach and took the ferry back to Papeete. That night I stayed with another wonderful host, Anne-Marie and her husband Jacques. They cooked me a lovely dinner which we ate outdoors on their balcony overlooking the Tahitian sea. After dinner, Anne-Marie and I went swimming under the stars. Like I said, life here is very difficult! ;-)

Anne-Marie, my fantastic host in Tahiti

Now, it's goodbye to Moorea and hello to New Zealand. Will write more soon!

Bonjour from French Polynesia!

I arrived Papeete this morning and took a ferry to the beautiful island of Moorea. It is a picturesque place with friendly locals, clear blue lagoon water, and plenty activities to keep a person occupied (snorkeling, scuba, parasailing, etc). I'm headed to the beach to recuperate from the long journey. A toute a l'heure!!

Hello / Goodbye

Today is the big day. I'm headed to LAX, then on to Papeete for an extended layover before flying into Auckland. I'm saying hello to new places, new people, and new experiences, but saying goodbye to home (for the time being).

Thanks to all my family and friends for your love, encouragement, and prayers as I begin my journey. I'll write again as soon as I can!

Flyin' solo

When I tell people about my trip, most ask "Who are you going with?" Reactions vary when I answer, "I'm going solo." 

   
    Is it safe? 
    Won't you get lonely?
    That doesn't sound like fun!
    You're brave. 


The reality is that the benefits to solo travel far outweigh the risks: Ten Benefits of Traveling Solo. Though I expect there will be moments in which I'm lonely or frustrated, the payoff will be worth it. Because I'm doing this solo, I can set my own agenda, move at the pace I want, and meet more people along the way.  


But is it safe? More than one person has asked me, "Um, have you seen the movie Taken?"

While it's generally true that women are required to be more cautious than men while on the road alone (we're seen as easier targets), many travelers will say that they feel safer abroad than they do in certain areas of their hometowns. The travelers' network is full of resources and advice for solo women, ranging from how to stay safe in a hostel to when to wear a fake wedding band. The main piece of advice is self-evident: use common sense. One shouldn't do abroad what she wouldn't do at home. 


So, friends, I promise to be careful.


I also promise to have fun!

Traveling friends

I'm not the only one venturing to the other side of the globe. Here are some folks I know who will (or already did) commence their travels around the same time. Thought I'd share the wanderers' wealth...

David and Toby, fellow Texans, are doing a one-year round-the-world trip and had the brilliant idea of making it an interactive experience available for K-6 teachers to use in the classroom. Their project, Global Encounter, is worth checking out.

GM and his friend Chris just started their journey in Capetown, and they're already enjoying some of their first adventures abroad. Check out the blog here. (Hint: these adventures involve baboons.)

I hope to cross paths with these friends along the way!

Resources

Those that know me well are aware I love to research stuff. Consumer products, how to (fill in the blank), the name of the guy in that movie... Give me a week, a month, or a year, and I'll fill it wandering down the rabbit trails of the world wide web. I spent a lot of time searching for useful information about career breaking, backpacking, working abroad, and traveling solo.


A small sampling of some of the best sources I found in my preparations:


Griffith, Susan. Work Your Way Around the World. Richmond, Surrey, Great Britain: Crimson Publishing, 2007.


Hindle, Charlotte, et al. Lonely Planet Career Break Book. Singapore: Lonely Planet 
Publications, 2004.


Potts, Rolf. Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel. New York: Villard Books, 2003.


Travel Independent website: http://www.travelindependent.info/index.htm 


Looking forward to getting my hands on LP's new edition of The Big Trip too!

Why travel now?

A question I've received a lot. I'll let the experts answer...

Why travel?

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.  Augustine

Most people are on the world, not in it--having no conscious sympathy or relationship to anything about them--undiffused, separate, and rigidly alone like marbles of polished stone, touching but separate.  John Muir

When you travel you experience, in a very practical way, the act of rebirth. You confront completely new situations, the day passes more slowly, and on most journeys you don't even understand the language the people speak... You begin to be more accessible to others, because they may be able to help you in difficult situations.  Paulo Coelho

Why now?

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.   Mark Twain

Thus, when we allow ourselves to imagine as we once did, we know, with a sudden jarring clarity, that if we don't go right now, we're never going to do it. And we'll be haunted by our unrealized dreams and know that we have sinned against ourselves gravely.   Tim Cahill


*********
I guess the real question here is: why not?!

New Zealand, my first destination

Career breakin'

Though the concept of a "career break" is becoming more and more common, lots of people have still never heard of it. I know I hadn't until I was introduced to a Lonely Planet book of the same title. "Sabbatical," "Gap Year for Adults," "Vagabonding"...call it what you will, but intentionally taking time away from regular employment for personal reasons is appealing on many levels. Travel career breaks are becoming more popular for Americans, though Brits, Aussies, Kiwis, and others have been doing it much longer.

Here's some basic info and resources.

About career breaks from Meet-Plan-Go

Career break myths & FAQs from Lonely Planet

Ten reasons to take a career break from Bootsnall

The pack that will accompany me to the other side of the world

New adventures

Byron Bay, Australia's most easterly point

Travel blogs: what a cliche. Yet here I am adding my voice to the millions of other traveling writers already out there. I'm hoping the blog will be an efficient means of keeping friends and family updated as I go. The traveling will begin after Thanksgiving, when I'll head to New Zealand via Tahiti. This picture is from a trip to Australia in January. Here's to new places, new people, and new adventures!