Travel is not a dangerous activity

Nine years ago, bedridden with a debilitating case of chronic Lyme disease, I examined my life. For 36 years I’d slaved away in jobs I detested because they provided me with a good living, but despite having all the material things that money could buy, I was miserable. In that rare moment of clarity, I thought, Is this all there is?

Three-plus decades after entering the work force, I was no closer to achieving my … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (1)  | November 25, 2014
Category: Female Travelers, Senior Travel, Vagabonding Styles

Saskia: On Vagabonding & thanks to Rolf

Last weekend I was in NYC, meeting with Rolf, among other things. It was mentioned, in passing, to a girl I met over dinner one evening and she got so excited: “I’ve read his book!! It literally changed my life!” She gushed. Her enthusiasm for travel was palpable, and she agreed to let me film her talking a bit about what the book, Vagabonding, had meant to her… she also had something to … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (2)  | April 1, 2014
Category: Female Travelers, Youth Travel

Nellie Bly, A pioneer in female solo travel

In 1885, a young lady just 21 years old read an article titled “What Girls are Good For” in a Pittsburg newspaper. Her written response to the paper impressed the editor so much, that he offered her a job as a writer, with the pen name “Nellie Bly”. Nellie went on to prove that women had brains, heart, and courage to do anything that men could, despite what the article had previously reported.

Nellie began … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (2)  | November 25, 2013
Category: Female Travelers, General

Open relationships and long term travel

“But you’re just going to leave!”

Although I hated to admit it, who said that was right. At the time I’d been seasonally migrating as a guide for four years. And had no intention to confine my adventurous spirit in domestic American life, then—if ever. The catch though was he was not American; Swedish born to immigrated Polish parents. And unless we got married, physically being together was a matter of juggling countless visas. I … Read more »

Posted by | Comments Off on Open relationships and long term travel  | November 29, 2012
Category: Female Travelers, General, Languages and Culture, Notes from the collective travel mind, On The Road, Sex and Travel, Simplicity, Travel Health, Vagabonding Advice, Vagabonding Life

Flying domestically (usa) with a service dog

Flying with your Service Dog takes a bit of pre-planning. Most airlines require 48 hours advance notice about your canine partner. Initially tickets can be booked online through a collective search website like CheapOair. Before purchasing tickets, check out the Airlines direct website for Service Animal rules. Under Federal Law airlines are required to allow Service Animals but a few are friendlier about it than others.

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Posted by | Comments (3)  | November 1, 2012
Category: Air Travel, Female Travelers, General, North America, On The Road, Solo Travel, Vagabonding Styles

Long-distance footpaths

Recently I’ve been reading, “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed. When the author was in her mid-twenties she solo hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. Her book unfolds as she treks north, nursing her blistered feet and cumbersome heavy pack along a majority of the 2,663mi (4,286km) trail. It initially begins at the Mexican border, passes through California, Oregon, and Washington in the USA and over the border into Canada. Several years ago I’d … Read more »

Posted by | Comments Off on Long-distance footpaths  | September 6, 2012
Category: Adventure Travel, Africa, Asia, Central America, Destinations, Europe, Female Travelers, Images from the road, North America, Oceania, On The Road, Simplicity, Solo Travel, South America

Vagabonding Field Reports: Sailing in the British Virgin Islands, Caribbean

 

Cost/day: $200

Chartering a boat isn’t cheap. If you are lucky and know the right people you could however, get a job as crew, stewarding, cooking or being a deck hand if you don’t have sailing qualifications. If you are not working then watch out for hidden costs such as moorings, docking, water and tips for the crew which may not be included in the bill.

 

What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen lately?

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Posted by | Comments Off on Vagabonding Field Reports: Sailing in the British Virgin Islands, Caribbean  | July 7, 2012
Category: Adventure Travel, Backpacking, Female Travelers, Solo Travel, Vagabonding Field Reports

Advice for women: “that time of the month”

Warning for men: if talk about female cycles makes you uncomfortable or queasy I’d suggest you skip this post!

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Ladies, we can’t all live in the remaining hunter-gatherer cultures where ones menstrual cycle is a sacred celebration. Nor are we still band from our own households for three days like the old laws in Nepal. And frankly I doubt if I strip naked to walk through a field, anyone would still believe that I … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (2)  | May 31, 2012
Category: Female Travelers, General, On The Road, Travel Gear, Travel Health, Vagabonding Advice

Vagabonding Field Reports: A Boat Hop to Bequia, St.Vincent and the Grenadines, Caribbean

 

 

Cost/day:$10

The Caribbean isn’t really that cheap. However, if you’re creative and have some skills, anything is possible. Most of my money went on beer and bus tickets.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen lately?

Three men waving a live lobster, barracuda pizza and and an Ugly Man competition.

Vagabonding Field Reports: Dadanawa Cattle Ranch, Guyana, South America

 

 

Cost/day: $0.8/day

Guyana isn’t really that cheap. However, if you’re creative and have some skills, anything is possible. I worked at Dadanawa Cattle Ranch for two and a half months in exchange for food and board. Most of my money went towards toiletries, insect repellant and beer. Being frugal was easy because the nearest town was 4 hours drive over rough savannah roads away.

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