We Said Go Travel

Penghu: The Hawaii of Taiwan?

2012-03-16T14:22:00.003-07:00

Lonely Planet Taiwan calls the Penghu Islands the “Hawaii of Taiwan.” Might Penghu be like an old-time Hawaii? And as a place known for its fishing industry, Penghu seems like a destination far from the tourist trail, a place with a major Matsu festival and therefore a tantalizing prospect for exploration.

In search of the festival and the Matsu temples, we set off to a temple and to the Fenggui Blowholes by bus. Several soldiers from Taipei and other cities are onboard but looking for “hot girls in bikinis” at the Shanshui beach. After saying dooh shiah or thank you, and Wan ahhn or good evening, we have to rely on their English; our few measly words in Taiwanese hardly suffice for a conversation.

We plan to get dropped off on Shuli Beach and walk to the next patch of sand at Shanshui, but greatly underestimate the gigantic size of the island. Thank goodness we are traveling by bus and not bicycle! Further adjusting our itinerary, we decide to walk around the grand Matsu temple. The soldiers are no longer nearby but I know they will find us on Facebook.

In the old town, we wander cobblestone streets and find the “first-class historic site” of the Empress of Heaven Temple, the oldest Matsu Temple in all of Taiwan. At this site many people are burning paper money for luck. Searching for the formal pilgrimage, we explore Aimen and Lintong Beaches, both of which are lovely and clean. Everywhere in Taiwan, the locations are spotless and the people friendly and quick to offer assistance if we seem lost; one man even turns his motorbike around in traffic to stop and chat and help us find our way, clearly inconveniencing himself to make sure we are assisted. The people are interested in us as tourists and as English-speaking Americans. They are just plain friendly; this place almost rivals the Bulas of Fijians!

Video: Exploring Penghu Islands in Taiwan

Article first published as Penghu: The Hawaii of Taiwan? on Technorati.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: We are ready for a BIG CHANGE!! We are leaving Blogger and Weebly for the vast ocean of WORDPRESS!! Our site will be evolving and we can't wait to share it with you! Please be patient with us and check back for the upgrades. We chose to publish TODAY since we aren't sure we will be live on SUNDAY when we normally post a new article for you.

Coming soon: more videos from Samoa, Tonga, Memphis and an article about Lisa's recent trip to NEW YORK CITY!!

Lisa's article on Magicopolis posted to LACOT today--It's enchanting!
and there is always more at www.wesaidgotravel.com

Luxury Spiritual Quest to Bali, Special Savings!

2012-03-13T09:26:00.002-07:00

Special Travel offer for friends of We Said Go Travel

Visit BALI in APRIL or SEPTEMBER 2012 for a luxury spiritual tour to Indonesia. See the sites where Elizabeth Gilbert found love and adventure!

Book by March 17th and mention We Said Go Travel for this incredible discount:

The Eat Pray Love Bali:

Dates: April 17-23, 2012
Sep 25-Oct 1, 2012
sign up by Saturday March 17, and take advantage of these unbeatable prices -

Deluxe room normally $2,995, double occupancy, at $1,997

Pool Villa normally $3,995, double occupancy, at $2,597
(Add $995 if you want single occupancy on either offer)

Here's what people have been saying about the last trip:

"Thank you. You saved my life!"

"I had the most powerful experience in Bali - it rocked my world."

"Spirit Quest Tours is da bomb!"

Ready to book:
Call toll-free (877) 406-5206 from anywhere in the world, to sign up! All payments are due in full on March 17 when the trip closes!

This could be you!

Questions:

Spirit Quest Tours

(877) 406-5206

Check out the video on YouTube!

Lisa is a L.E.A.N Traveler!

2012-03-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Staying Fit and Lean

Recently I was interviewed for L.E.A.N. Traveler about staying fit while traveling. I lost sixty pounds from when I first met George to when we got married!

Here is part of the L.E.A.N. Traveler interview:

What are your top three tips for staying lean while traveling? My top three tips for staying lean while traveling are:

Don’t let yourself get too hungry. Take a snack or have a piece of fruit in the afternoon so you can say “NO!” to the breadbasket.
Walk everywhere you can. I personally lost weight while traveling in Asia for a year because we walked all the time.
Portion control: if you are traveling with someone, share a entrée since portion size in the USA has gone haywire and restaurants serve enormous quantities of food.

Read the entire interview

Look for photos to come in the March 26 glossy magazine: First for Women!

Our YouTube channel went over 10,000 views! Which of our 35 videos is your favorite?
The most recent one Exploring Penghu Islands in Taiwan or Taipei with over 3300 views?

There is always more on our website: www.wesaidgotravel.com

International Educator: Lisa Niver Rajna

2012-03-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

Dr. Jessie Voights interviewed me for the Profiles in International Education Section on her site Wandering Educators. Read about me on Wandering Educators!

Here is the beginning of the Interview:

Lisa Niver Rajna is our Geography Awareness Editor, a world traveler, and a science teacher in Los Angeles, California. Think that science isn't international? Think again! I'm impressed with the work that Lisa does with her students - exploring the world, and the people in it. She's the publisher of two websites that combine her love of travel and teaching science - We Said Go Travel, and Science Isn't Scary. She embodies the true meaning of international education - and practices it every day.

Want to read the full interview and see the photos? Click here!

Drama: My Personal Samoa Survivor (Video)

2012-02-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

Enjoy this article and video about Samoa and my personal Drama at Virgin Cove--right where they filmed SURVIVOR SAMOA!

Drama at Virgin Cove:
Face-Planted on the Ground
At 1:30am as I lay on the cement step outside the bathroom. I thought, “Hmm, why am I on the ground? How did this happen?” Leaving Los Angeles for a summer of sun in Samoa and the South Pacific, I had no idea about the Survivor Stories that would unfold so quickly.

I had eaten the chicken at dinner, apparently a mistake that night.

During the dark hours before dawn I fainted at the edge of the bathroom steps and there I regained consciousness, scraped and bruised on both arms and chin. I guess when I needed to run to the bathroom again and again I should have woken George, especially after falling, but I was so stunned that I ended up face-planted on the ground. Once back in our room I lay on the mat, moaning. George woke up and asked what was wrong. After hearing my tale of woe he offered to help. Because of his concern, and despite the many eariler explosions, I was finally able to rest.

This video shows some of the gorgeous beauty of Virgin Cove, our nighttime arrival and the many steps to the bathroom. All aspects of travel are not beautiful but some of them do make us appreciate better the postcard days!

Video: Drama at Virgin Cove

Article first published as Drama at Virgin Cove on Technorati.

In Los Angeles? Join us TODAY at JetSet Extra Social!
Not in Los Angeles, Join us online with JetSet Extra Social at http://jetsetextra.com/
More info on our website: http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/los-angeles.html

Travel Events in Los Angeles

2012-02-19T09:30:00.000-08:00

Oh… What a night!
I joined a gathering of travelers at Luxe Hotel on Sunset. Chef Olivier from France treated us to delicious delicacies and the bar team shared their incredible cocktail creations all in the relaxing and beautiful outdoor garden lit up with twinkle lights in all the trees. The audience included people from LACOT, and We Said Go Travel as well as PR mavens, travel bloggers, foodies, newbie travelers and travel junkies were inspired by Johnny Jet from the Travel channel sharing his personal journeys.

Anyone who has wondered, “Can I do it?” will relate to his stories of overcoming obstacles and now wandering to twenty or more countries a year. I particularly liked it his comments; “the world would be a better place if everyone would see it.”

He had fears about travel but he faced them and now leads viewers around the world with his new travel show, Hot Spots 2012.

His program features eight destinations including: New Zealand, Richard Branson’s Necker Island and Space port in New Mexico, Belize, England, Toronto and Lower Manhattan. Johnny also spoke about how the news media make far-off places sound as if they will be full of danger, but often he arrives and realizes how similar are the world's diverse cultures and how safe vastly different countries can be.

I hope that you can travel even a fraction of his 150,00 miles a year and create your own journeys to share! Don’t worry if you missed him last night---he will be speaking on February 26, 2012 as part of JetSet Extra’s amazing event at Union Station.

Meanwhile, If you are looking for 360 degrees of serenity, look no further than the Luxe Hotels! They have incredible packages with breakfast, an ipad for use while in the hotel, Shiraz wine and their incredible food, service and locations! We heard incredible live jazz in the lounge and were delighted to find out that the group is there every Tuesday and Thursday night. We will return soon for more of the great treats, drinks, music and experience!

Look for all four Luxe hotels: Luxe Rodeo Drive, the only hotel on Rodeo Drive, Luxe City Center, near Staples Center, in Dallas the historic Stoneleigh Luxe or where we were last night with seven acres and a pool right on Sunset Boulevard! As they say, “All that you want. More than you expect!”

Article first published as LACOT in Conversation with Johnny Jet on Technorati.

TWO TRAVEL EVENTS THIS WEEK:

February 26, 2012 JETSET EXTRA SOCIAL at Union Station

The globetrotting panel includes travel expert Johnny Jet of JohnnyJet.com, Jeff Greif owner of TravelSquire.com, Stacy Dreyfus Founder of Orchid Worldwide Resorts and Escapes, go to travel guy of CTS Travel, James Densmore, Global adventurer Lee Abbamonte, and Ashley Colburn of Take Off with Ashley Colburn; Amy Swift Founder of SMARTY will moderate.

“It was really important to me that the panel speakers be in the travel trenches today,” says Mary Anne Been of Jetset Extra. “With communication and content moving so fast, our audience needs to hear directly from the people who are forging these new paths between the old and new media."

Register Now! This event is from 4-8pm at the Fred Harvey Room at Union Station

February 22, 2012 roadmonkey: Adventure Philanthropy

Roadmonkey…Pronounced “rohd-muhnkee,” is a curious individual who finds joy in exploring the unknown, breaking a few rules & working hard to create positive change for people in need.

On Wednesday, February 22nd, join Roadmonkey, Hostelling International and We Said Go Travel to learn more about adventure philanthropy and traveling with a purpose. Hear Paul von Zielbauer share the stories of expeditions that combine physically challenging adventures with sustainable volunteer projects. The event will take place at HI-Santa Monica, 1436 Second Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401.
Join us at 7:30 pm, Refreshments and wine will be provided.
Limited space is available. Please RSVP to shanec@lahostels.org

OPTIONAL: the evening continues with a Pub Crawl for Charity at 9:00 pm.

Aitutaki--a jewel in the South Pacific

2012-02-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

My first trip to Aitutaki was for our honeymoon two years ago. George and I had wanted to visit there before but it was the first time the dice of price allowed it to happen! Our two weeks in the Cook Islands included kayaking, hammock swinging and two trips to the incredible jewel- toned Aitutaki Lagoon with Teking Tours.

Kit Herring of the Backpacker's Handbook was recently there for a glorious third time and offered to share his historical knowledge of this spectacular location. Enjoy!

A Concise History of First Contact in Aitutaki and the South Pacific

The area near Arutanga today

When Captain William Bligh let go the anchor of the Bounty off the west coast of Aitutaki a few days before the famous mutiny, he beheld an island and a culture far different than we can possibly understand today. He did not visit the whole island, but rather only the area loosely termed Arutanga. Always a meticulous diarist, he recorded some interesting facts. Of the natives in Tahiti he had written, "Inclination seems to be the only binding law, marriage in this country for a woman will get her a husband if she pledges..."

He continues about the inhabitants of Aitutaki, "The people are just the same as those of the...Isles... but are more docile and inoffensive."
The account from his logbook of the discovery reads as follows:
"At daylight however we discovered an island of a moderate height with a round conical hill...A number of small Keys were seen from the mast."

Maungapu, the tallest hill on the island

"They were all around with trees and the large island had a most fruitful appearance. The shore was bordered with flat land, with innumerable Cocoa Nut and other trees. I saw no smoke or any sign of inhabitants."

He writes that, "(T)hey called this island Whytootackee, " and that upon his first meeting with the natives, "I was however agreeably surprised by a visit from four men in a single canoe... Two of the men had each a large Mother of Pearl shell hung on their breasts... On being told I was the Erree (chief), the principal person immediately came and joined noses with me and presented me his shell and tyed it around my neck... Notwithstanding they said there were no Hogs, Yarros, of tarrow... they called them by name, and I rather inclined to believe they were imposing upon me... The Chief of the canoe took possession of everything I had given... a knife, some nails, Beads and a looking glass."

He goes on to say that two locals wished to overnight on his ship. Apparently some of his crew took the idea of immediate friendship in a rather liberal sense. "After the natives were gone I heard that some of my johns had engaged to bring women off in the morning, and it was therefore the reason perhaps that two of them designed to sleep on board."

Modern cultivation of yarrow (manioc)

We have no reason to disbelieve his observations. Any navigator who sailed in an open boat, as Bligh did after the mutiny, over several thousands of miles of the unexplored open Pacific to safety at the nearest European settlement, Batavia, now the capital city of Jakarta in Indonesia, deserves respect and validation. Regardless of the circumstances that resulted in his being tossed from the Bounty with scant provisions by a crew that had become enchanted with the terrible beauty of Polynesia, he was a man who set forth to record all he saw.

But life on this tranquil outpost of Oceanic civilization received the first of its death blows at his hands, although Bligh could not have understood the tragedy about to unfold when he touched shore. The story of the coming of the missionaries in 1821 is well known and does not need to be repeated here. The tales of forced conversion, the bringing of diseases and epidemics that the "Christians" blamed on the Polynesian gods, the later blackbirding of the population and the relentless efforts of the Europeans to stamp out the old ways -- these stories are horrific and yet accepted today as a matter of course.

With their bodies' physical beauty covered by the whites in heavy nineteenth-century civilized clothing, the essence of the pre-contact natives was smothered irrevocably. Today no oral traditions remain of that first contact, and the missionaries did nearly a complete job of eliminating the old spirituality and the old ways.


Sydney Harbour from Montagu Roadstead; Cook missed it but found Brush Island and Botany Bay	Photo by: John Porter

The author Jared Diamond has noted that perhaps the biggest mistake humankind ever made was to quit the hunter/gatherer way of life and settle into towns and cities, where manipulative leaders were then able to force stifling societal rules and repression on hapless clans of formerly free people.

Whether or not this generalization holds much truth is still a matter of debate, but in Aitutaki the answer is painfully obvious.

Perhaps the wisest response we have to First Contact comes from the log of James Cook. Upon encountering the indigenous inhabitants of Australia for the first time, he recounted that they shouted at the English sailors an incomprehensible phrase. At the time no one in the explorers’ party understood the meaning of the words. Later they were found to impart a simple message: “Go away!”

Thanks for reading and for all your comments on our blog!
Tell us: Where do you want to go next?

More from Lisa and George Rajna at: http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/

Count Something Important

2012-02-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

Atul Gawande says in his book, Better, count something interesting, be it an object or an abstract concept, and you will learn interesting new ideas. Some people count the days to summer camp or the nights until a Saturday night date; I enjoy counting the countries I've visited.

After seven years at sea and a year in Asia with my husband, George, I have touched ground in 108 countries. But we are far from the top elite of this hobby. This past December, we met Lee Abbamonte at a Traveler’s Century Club luncheon. He has currently checked off 301 of the world's 321 countries! (photo December 2011 Traveler's Century Club Meeting with Joan Schwarz, Pam Barrus (VP TCC), Lee Abbamonte (301 countries), and Lisa & George Rajna)

My family has been counting, too. My parents rang in the New Year with us to celebrate their seventieth birthdays and nearly forty-nine years of marriage. My sister counted and collected over eight hundred photos that represented every decade of their lives, from images of their great-grandparents to their grandchildren, including shots of hilarious 1960s hairstyles, and our home's mod wallpaper during the seventies.

Using the fantastic site, www.picturemosaics.com, we turned our collective photos into a photo mosaic masterpiece. A picture might be worth a thousand words, but this photo mosaic was so impressive that when we hung it in the photo and art gallery on the Voyager of the Seas to surprise our parents, total strangers inquired whether the piece might be for sale! I told them, “You can’t have ours, but I recommend you make your own!” Naturally my dad said, “Sell it to them! We can hang on the wall in their house also!”

I love the photo mosaic and I love the personal history it represents. I think I may create one from the five years George and I have spent together, including shots from our travels. Here is a novel and unique art project for travel pictures and now I can count one more important aspect of my own life.

Article first published as Count Something Important on Technorati.

Our movie about Bahia De Kino: “The Movie” is on Technorati! Check it out on youtube

Red Goddess Rising by Halle Eavelyn

2012-01-29T09:00:00.000-08:00


Halle Eavelyn and Lisa Niver Rajna

When I met Halle at her book reading recently, I thought about my first trip to the Giza Pyramids. I remember that day like it was yesterday although I visited the great archeological site over thirty years ago! My family was cruising on a Greek ship at the time and the vessel stopped in Egypt. The day we went to the pyramids our bus caravan was escorted by armed guards. We carried a large sack of fruit from the Maitre D' and a brief but terrifying camel ride still burns in my memory, I remember seeing the Giza plateau and climbing through the sand and wondering, "Who built this? Why?" and, "Are there more sights like this to see in other countries?" Reading Halle's book reminds me of my travels in Egypt, on sea-going cruises, and around other parts of the world. I hope you enjoy my review of her book and are inspired to look for your own questions AND answers!

Halle’s vibrant examples and personal tales draw me in to her writing style and I feel I am also sailing in a private Nile cruise on Momo’s boat, The Alfandia (which means The Old King).

The novel talks about Halle’s tour company, her trips to Egypt, and her relationship with herself, her partner, and travel companions. I feel like I was at the Philee Temple along with her and experiencing the events. Her personal tales like “the yellow fire” remind me of my own travels and how making your dreams come true can include painful moments while on the road. I appreciate that Halle shares all aspects of the journey, not just the pretty parts; I would love to be included in the “bad kids” tours! Her discussions of opening chakras, past lives and ancient religions seem perfectly in tune with the history of Egypt and the sites they visit. Her descriptions are accurate and make me want to laugh out loud as I remember similar moments on my own trips: “If you’ve ever driven in Athens, you’ve driven in Cairo, five lanes of cars driving on three lanes of streets.” One of the most noticeable things in this book is that in every section it is clear that Halle loves to travel and loves Egypt, as well as the life she has created with her partner, Greg.

After reading this book, I think most people would want Halle as a personal guide. However, the reader may also pick up incredible travel tips, such as visiting the Luxor Temple late at night as to have the place all to yourself. That temple and its light show were some of the most memorable moments I myself had while in the Nile Valley.

Halle has seen sights in Egypt that many of us have missed, for example the Temple of Seti I at Abydos and the Library at St. Catherine’s (where many of us could not get an invitation!) Learning about these gems wakes up my travel lust and gets me ready for more adventures.

I first was drawn to Halle’s story as she calls herself the “Julie the Cruise Director” of Spirit Quest Tours. I have personally worked on board the Love Boat and other cruise lines and enjoy that she uses that same title to convey what an incredible travel host she is for all her guests.

She says, “Many people think they come here for a vacation, when they really come to heal a hole in their hearts.” Whether cooking an incredible Thanksgiving dinner in Egypt or attending a memorial for a friend, Halle creates a spiritual zone around her. “Our lives are braided like DNA, and we so often fail to recognize that we are here, not by ourselves, not with our spouse, our children, our friends, but with everyone we touch, and everyone they touch and, by extension, the whole world.”

While reading this book, you will enjoy a trip to Egypt and quite possibly to your inner self.

Article first published as Red Goddess Rising by Halle Eavelyn on Technorati.

Please join us on Thursday, February 2, 2012

LACOT in conversation with Johnny Jet

Date: February 2, 2012
Time: 6-8 PM
Place: Luxe Hotel Sunset Blvd, 11461 Sunset Blvd.
Special Guest: Johnny Jet
RSVP today as space is limited: http://www.facebook.com/events/282922671769066/?context=create
Please join LACOT and We Said Go Travel for this evening of hors d'oeuvres, wine, and conversation with special guest Johnny Jet.

The Los Angeles Consortium of Online Travel (LACOT) is hosting, and we'll hear a few words from our favorite local travel celebrity along with some helpful travel advice. Here's what LACOT has to say about the event:

"Those of us who so choose can have a quick tour of the Luxe Sunset Hotel. Right off the 405 on Sunset Blvd, this boutique hotel is one of west Los Angeles' great little surprises. Great food and talented, creative barkeeps are a draw for locals, and the rooms are beautifully appointed. You'd never suspect that the Luxe Hotel Sunset Blvd sits on seven acres, so close to the 405 as it is.

And - shhh - there may be one or two other surprises in store for this evening's gathering of like-minded travel lovers. Don't ask; you'll have to come to the meet-up to find out. But, seriously...wine, hors d'oeuvres, chit-chat, and Johnny Jet? Sounds pretty great as it is."

Learning about Craic with Richard Bangs

2012-01-22T09:00:00.001-08:00

Although my personal country count is over one hundred countries (by Traveler's Century Club), I still have so many places to go on my list! For a long time, I have wanted to go to Iceland and Ireland (and Italy--George calls is my "I" List). When Richard Bangs spoke at our travel event in October, he told me he was off to Ireland. Please see my article below about his trip, his new videos and the concept of "Craic." I can't wait to go to Ireland!! Where do you want to go next?

There is a mysterious and elusive concept in Ireland called “Craic.” Everyone in country knows what is it, and seeks it, and relishes it….but few outside the shores know of it….A secret within an enigma in a puzzle.

Join Richard Bangs as he unearths this underground notion, see the entire multi-media series of dispatches now; it is live on vimeo.

Richard Bangs was our keynote speaker at Meet Plan Go Los Angeles in October 2011. He has often been called the father of modern adventure travel, having spent more than 30 years as an explorer and communicator, pioneering “virtual expeditions” on the World Wide Web and leading first descents of 35 rivers around the world. He has published more than 1000 magazine articles, 19 books, a score of documentaries, several CD-ROMs, and all manner of digital media. He has lectured at the Smithsonian, the National Geographic Society, the Explorers Club and many other notable venues.

His desire for adventure and travel was inspired by his father, a career officer in the CIA, part of the first class that came from Yale who truly believed he could change the world for the better, as the OSS did before him. Richard is working to change the world with his show, Adventure with a Purpose, seen on PBS. His series of specials celebrate a destination, and tell its stories in an evocative, emotive way, one that elicits connectivity, inspiration to visit, and to become involved.

I hope his series will inspire you to live his vision:

“Risk is the flame of the evolution of consciousness. I would rather die trying something new than live a long life of mediocrity.”

Travel, as Mark Twain supposedly says, is fatal to bigotry and prejudice, but it also reignites the internal combustion engine of the soul. Richard Bangs says, “I love finding new light, turning over new stones; falling into new holes...I love getting lost.”

More about us at: wesaidgotravel.com

Views from Kino and ways to find your passion, lose the weight and sneak in science!

2012-01-15T09:04:00.000-08:00

Our Latest VIDEO from Thanksgiving in Mexico! Enjoy!

Thank you to EVERYONE for reading, commenting and sharing our blog and website! We really appreciate it! We were very well read in December 2011~ and we hope your support continues!

A few articles that featured LISA that you might have missed:

Finding your passion
After dropping out of medical school in her 20s, Lisa Niver Rajna of Los Angeles traveled for almost seven years on the high seas. "In my 30s, I worked on a cruise ship like Julie McCoy [on the TV series "The Love Boat"] and also worked for two seasons at Club Med. My family said I ran away and joined the circus."
While some people worried that she might be "wasting her potential," Niver Rajna discovered that she really enjoyed both traveling and working with the kids' programs on the cruises. These experiences, plus her educational background, led her to become a science teacher and travel blogger in her 40s.
"I have no regrets about taking this other path," Niver Rajna says. "Once I decided that leaving medicine was the right choice for me, everything else fell into place. When I am teaching or traveling, I know I am in the right place doing what I am meant to be doing."
http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2826-Career-Growth-and-Change-Lessons-from-jobs-held-in-your-30s/?pf=true

Lisa's Tips to Stop Emotional Eating at: Always New You

Tips to Stop Emotional Eating

Know that you do it - Awareness FIRST
Have a plan for what you can do instead, go for a walk or call a friend when you are mad about what someone said. Chocolate is not the answer (but, it sure can feel like the answer at the time).
Don't let yourself get too hungry. If I get over-hungry I make the worst food choices. If I keep an apple and nuts in my desk I will eat those at 3pm. If I don't have a good snack I will find anything to eat - especially chocolate!
It is not a straight path, be gentle with yourself! Eating a small chocolate is better than a pint of ice cream.

When my doctor told me I had gained 13 pounds, we had a mini-fight in her office. No one in my family or any of my friends had been brave enough to tell me. I still can’t believe I had no idea how I looked and I could not figure out why I couldn’t get a second date. I did meet George online at my heaviest of 176 and 39 years old. I almost missed our first date because I did not write back, but luckily he wrote to me again. At our wedding, just 3 years later, I weighed 114 lbs. It was a long journey of weight loss and of eating less but it has been worth the effort!

-- Lisa Niver Rajna, Happy Traveler, We Said Go Travel http://www.wesaidgotravel.com

Everyday Ways to Help Kids Learn!

Most adults think of science as an experiment or equation that has nothing to do with everyday life. But science is the process for figuring out how things work, explains Lisa Niver Rajna, a K-6 science teacher in Los Angeles. When you think of it that way, even a construction site can turn into a physics lesson.

Observation is the basis of science, so do what Rajna does when she takes her students out on a walk: ask your child to put on his imaginary detective hat and tell you everything he sees.
http://www.parenting.com/gallery/everyday-ways-sneak-learning

More news and stories coming soon! Check us out at http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/

Turbulent Tonga Part III: “Humps and Bumps, Tonga Giveth, Tonga Taketh”

2012-01-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

Turbulent Tonga Part III: “Humps and Bumps, Tonga Giveth, Tonga Taketh”

The Lonely Planet describes Neiafu, the main town on the Vava’u Island group as “ramshackle.” Although I somewhat agree, Neiafu has its charms. In fact, I would describe it as quaint. Families of pigs cross the road, a large white church perches above the town, and children stop to say, “Hello.” In addition, due to the expatriate yacht scene brought about by the Port of Refuge, a pretty and protected harbor, many good restaurants have sprung up including Cafe Tropicana, The Sunset Grill, and the Aquarium Cafe, all good places to sample tasty Western food. There is even a decent Chinese option.

The “Orange Vomit,” or the nickname that locals gave the old ferry, no longer runs but the current craft, both new and old boats, are quite basic, especially if you are planning on tackling the roughly 18-hour journey from Nuku’alofa to Vava’u. For this reason, we opted to fly and arrived in only 45 minutes. We checked into the Puataukanave Hotel where the room choices are deluxe, luxury, economy, and backpacker; due to the costs of traveling in Tonga, we chose the backpacker room that costs about $30US per night for spartan rooms with shared bathroom and a slew of mosquitos awaiting guest arrival.

Everything in Tonga is quite pricey. We ran into quite a few long-term travelers who mentioned, “I’m traveling for a year and I thought that Tonga would be one of the cheaper countries that we would visit,” and “The flight here from New Zealand was quite reasonable so we figured that Tonga was a budget travel destination.” Wrong! Everything in Tonga is expensive, from internal flights to restaurants, to food purchased in shops. Accommodation is a terrible value. At times it does not even seem like the Tongans really want tourism in their country. Yes, Tonga taketh, but Tonga also giveth. When Tonga gives, tourists are quite content. Still, expect to pay roughly three times what you would in South-East Asia and even more than Samoa for lesser quality.

Lisa and I spent our first couple of days wandering and taking in the village atmosphere. The locals appeared reserved yet friendly when approached. The expats were all very friendly and quite a party atmosphere developed at Tongan Bob’s, a local bar also run by an expat. On Wednesdays you can attend the “famous” fakaleiti night; what transpires here makes absolutely no sense to me. Basically, a man who is dressed as a woman dances on the stage to a song like, “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. While this man dances, men and women in the crowd, both expats and locals, approach the dancer and place local paper currency in the fakaleiti’s bra strap, g-string, or anywhere money can be deposited. This is not my thing but the people there that night seemed to be having a good time.
The following day we left with Dolphin Pacific Diving to enjoy what I imagined to be the highlight of our trip to Vava’u and possibly even Tonga. We headed off to swim with humpback whales! Our leader for the day, Al, sat perched on the upper deck of our boat looking for whales. He said, “The first person who spots the whale gets to swim first. You spot them by looking for spouting water that will be exiting from the whale’s blowhole.” I kept close watch as we motored among a variety of islets that in total form almost a jellyfish-like shape.

The hues of the water, greens and blues, are as hard to describe as they are varied. About fifteen minutes after we left the harbor, Al dropped to the main deck area to inform us, “There are pilot whales here. We are going to take advantage of this even though we are looking for humpbacks.” We all nodded in agreement and prepared our gear that included wetsuits (the Tongan waters are cold, really!), snorkels and masks. We had to supply our own courage to swim with massive sea creatures. I asked Al, “How many pilot whales are here?” He responded, “They normally travel in groups of fifteen to twenty.” I excitedly placed on my gear and prepared to enter the water. To my dismay, the whales immediately dove toward the depths and disappeared. We removed our gear and mentally prepared ourselves for the next swim.

After the failed pilot whale swim, our luck did not improve. We glided over the choppy ocean for at least an hour, seeing nothing. I began hallucinating, thinking that every spray of water was a whale spout. Al heard over the CB radio that another boat had pinpointed the location of two whales. We quickly advanced toward the divine location but after we arrived we were informed that “yes there are two whales,” and that the rules state that “The other boat can swim with the whales for an hour before we have a shot since they spotted it first.” We were advised to eat the light lunch included in the tour, a sandwich with strange potato chips that tasted like barbequed squid. The whale watching day trip was a pricey $275US for the two of us, expensive like everything else in the island nation.

After 45 minutes, the other boat notified us that they had finished with their turn and that we could give it a go. Since our boat held only four people we were permitted to enter the water at the same time. We saw two whales over the bow and some spouting. We were told to prepare our gear and head to the stern. Our legs dangled into the ocean as the boat slowed and suddenly the boat driver yelled, “Go, go, go!!!” We swam frantically toward the whales. I heard Lisa coughing and I looked at her and asked if she was okay. She nodded. I continued to swim toward the whale but saw nothing. We returned to the boat and I readied myself for our next attempt. But there would be no more attempts. Al informed us that the choppy waters were not to our advantage and that we were heading back to the harbor. I was livid. I said, “One time? We entered the water one time and that’s it? We paid all this money just for one chance?” Al said, “Most people need to come on at least three boat trips to ensure that they swim with whales but even then, I mean, this is nature and you cannot guarantee anything.” My mood did not improve even though what he said made sense.

Later, as we approached the harbor, Al asked me, “Do you want to go out again tomorrow?” I said, “We are heading to Ofu Island tomorrow and have already scheduled everything.” Al handed me his card,“Here is my number. Call me when you are returning from Ofu and I will get you on a boat to have another opportunity.” I shook Al’s hand and thanked him for the kind offer. Then we went to town to get food to take with us to Ofu. Our first attempt with the whales was a failure. But remember: Tonga taketh, and …Tonga giveth.

First published at:

http://blog.theclymb.com/turbulent-tonga-part-three/

More from us at: www.wesaidgotravel.com

Opportunity for our readers:

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Be the Change! Be Better!

2012-01-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

Lisa in 2007

Five years ago I went on a New Year’s cruise and made two resolutions: To buy a condo and to find a long-term relationship. I had been focused on these items already but now I was ready to make them happen.

By January 18, 2007, I had my first date with George and by January 20 I saw the condo I would later buy. George and my second wedding anniversary was December 19 and I have owned the condo for nearly five years. I also had a secret resolution to lose weight and subsequently lost sixty pounds.

I was reminded of all this reading Atul Gawande’s Better. I have enjoyed all of his books but this one really spoke to me partially because I dropped out of UCSF Medical School and I love to read about doctors who really speak about medicine and its practice and partly because he is talking about how to be your best.

He says, “The core requirements for success are diligence, to do right and ingenuity.”

His five suggestions for “how one might make a difference” are:

1. Ask an unscripted question
2. Don’t complain
3. Count something “if you count something interesting, you will learn something interesting.”
4. Write something “you should not underestimate the effect of your contribution, however modest.”
5. Change “So find something new to try, something to change. Count how often you succeed and how often you fail. Write about it. Ask people what they think. See if you can keep the conversation going.”

I do think this is a great plan to create the change you want to see in this world. I hope you will make a resolution to adopt one or more of his ideas for how to make a difference and share it with someone!

Lisa in 2009

I will tell you my resolution for 2012, to find a literary agent for our book about our story of meeting online, quitting our jobs, traveling in Asia for one year, getting engaged underwater, losing sixty pounds and keeping it off for over 2 and a half years, all while crying when snorkeling and of course learning to live without toilet paper!

This is what happens when Julie McCoy of the Love Boat meets a Paraguyan Peace Corps worker!! On our trip I worked hard to stop complaining, write something, change, count something other than the pounds I was losing and the months we were gone and ask lots of great questions.

Sometimes I think who would be interested in our personal story about finding love after 39 or the dramas of online dating when you don’t realize you are more than thirty or fifty pounds overweight. Sometimes I think no one will read our blog or our stories or come to our travel events. But our last event had over one hundred people so maybe someone is listening!

I give you these words from Ralph Waldo Emerson to inspire you to be better:

“Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.”

I wish you courage and that all your dreams come true in 2012.

More about us and our travels and resolutions at: http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/

Article first published as Be the Change! Be Better! on Technorati.

Pearls of Wisdom for a Happy Anniversary!

2011-12-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

PEARLS OF WISDOM

50 COUPLES EACH MARRIED 50 YEARS

As an assistant cruise director on the Love Boat, I hosted a party that included more than 2500 years of marriage. I asked the couples to tell me their secrets. How did they stay married for over half a century, when most of us can’t even get a second date? They were happy to share their wisdom and they hope it helps everyone have more second dates and full centuries of marriage.

Panama Cruise Pearls of Wisdom from October 1999

Kiss good night every night before you go to sleep.

Share everything especially your feelings.

Never go to bed angry.

Plenty of loving is what the doctor ordered.

When you are angry go out for a walk.

Be patient with each other.

Be willing to say you are sorry.

Don’t try to get in the last word.

Remember that you have made a commitment.

Compromise is one of the main keys to success.

Laughing is very healthy for the soul of your relationship.

Don’t Lose Respect for each other.

Be nice—remember what your mother said, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

Grin and bear it—who’s perfect?

Be best friends.

Learn to say YES DEAR.

Keep your mouth shut.

Teamwork is the most important thing. Remember you are on the same team.

Really Listen. Don’t plan what you are going to say next. Listen to what your partner is saying.

Dance your life away and enjoy it.

Thank god each day for what you’ve been given.

Don’t find fault.

Keep a sense of humor.

Communication is key, Listen to each other and talk to each other.

Carefully chose your mate.

Respect each other.

Remember what you said the first day—your vows.

Have a lousy memory.

Always stay in love.

At our wedding, December 19, 2009, Rabbi Zeldin read the Apache wedding blessing:

"Now we will feel no rain, for each of us will be shelter for the other.
Now we will feel no cold, for each of us will be warmth to the other.
Now there will be no loneliness, for each of us will be companion to the other.
Now we are two persons, but there is only one life before us."

We wish you many years of happiness, sunsets and celebration!!! We are enjoying our anniversary!
Lisa and George

More from and about us at: www.wesaidgotravel.com

Article first published as Pearls of Wisdom for Staying Married on Technorati.

Bahia de Kino: Part II, "The Realization"

2011-12-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

Considering the way that we came to hear of Kino, from a Canadian miner in Mongolia, our expectations of the place were lofty. We were ready to explore, taste, and find paradise.

After eating breakfast while taking in the lovely bay, Perry, the co-owner of Casa Tortuga, joined us and said in a matter-of-fact tone, “I’m not busy this morning - you know, being retired and all - and I would be more than happy to take you on a tour of the area.” Since we did not have wheels but did enjoy his company, we immediately accepted the offer.

Perry first drove us to the northern side of Nuevo Kino, an area with great ocean views, volcanic landscapes, and a white church perched atop a hill. The area is no doubt being built up; a gated community is under construction as I write. Unfortunately, the cool morning air and overcast sky hurried us back into the comfort of Perry’s vehicle. We drove through the desert viewing volcanic peaks that I yearned to scale ,as well as a humorously-situated desert golf course, without grass but not devoid of small synthetic putting greens, all punctuated with numbered flags.

We then headed to the fishing village of Kino Viejo,. There I was disappointed as the town appeared somewhat ramshackle and run-down. The local pier had vendors selling the daily catch and a few trinkets and the village was mellow but not beautiful. Even the beach in front of old Kino leaves something to be desired. The sand is more rocky and shell-laden than Kino Nuevo; boats line the sand leaving no room to walk along the shoreline.

We passed a few restaurants, checked out an art shop, and ate a couple of beef-head and bean tacos. We decided to walk along the beach back to New Kino. On the sand we met a few young teen boys who were playing on the beach. They were freaking out as thunder and lightening began to fill the distant sky. Still, we managed to get them into a rock- throwing competition to determine who could keep a rock in the air the longest.

My job was to be the counter. The winning time was eight seconds. With more roaring thunder, we continued back to the Casa Tortuga, attempting to avoid the rain. It eventually caught us and we spent most of the rest of this Thanksgiving Day under the veranda of our patio relaxing and reading books. Later that night we went to the closest restaurant, Pargo Rojo (Red Snapper) . We enjoyed excellent fish dishes and garlic chicken. The waiters were friendly and the ambiance basic.
The following day we woke up and headed to hike to the surrounding peaks. We turned from the main road where a painted sign read “Mariscos Judy” and continued inland until we reached the base of the mountain. As we walked further into the cacti-laden desert, we could not help but picture imaginary views from make-believe windows of nonexistent houses. We then headed upward. Two peaks became four and we were surrounded by volcanic detritus. We enjoyed the view and then headed back to prepare lunch.

We relaxed the remainder of the day and decided to join the local expatriates at Club Deportivo, followed by dinner at La Casa Blanca. When we arrived at Club Deportivo, we were shocked. Over one hundred retired North Americans were playing cards, socializing, and consuming very reasonably priced cocktails. Unsurprisingly, not a single person had ever met or even heard of Maury, the miner in Mongolia who'd told us about Kino. An emcee was on stage getting everyone revved. The place had a little bit of a Club Med feel but this was no all-inclusive resort. We met several friendly people that evening. First I spoke with Lee and Diane Ackerman, a couple who began their world trip after retiring but never made it past Kino. Lee served up stiff rum and cokes along with fluid conversation. I also spoke to John and Judy Hazen, a couple from Oregon who have a daughter working as a teacher in Thailand.

After the events at Club Deportivo, yet another couple, Hilda and Valentine invited us to join them at Jorge’s for dinner. We learned interesting things about one other and shared a love for Indonesia. The garlic fish was tasty and the margaritas proved powerful. Later we retired to our patio and enjoyed the beautiful view with the wind rustling through our hair and the moonlight gleaming off the tranquil ocean.
The following morning Perry once again came to our aid. He gave us a lift near Kino Viejo where we embarked in one-man kayaks to circumnavigate Albatros Island. I was excited; as someone has mentioned that blue-footed boobies could be seen on the west side of the island. As we neared the island, the stench of bird crap was unavoidable.

Thousands of birds, mainly pelicans, inhabited the island. We slowly circled the island but never caught sight of a booby. We did see a couple of sea lions but the main draw was the bird life. We then headed back toward the coast and steered north, toward our guesthouse. But the seas suddenly turned lumpy and we paddled ashore. I dragged the kayaks across the sand toward our rental, figuring that we were only about one kilometer distant. As I pulled on the boats, a man in a hat approached us. He said, “Hi. I remember you two from last night.” Then I realized that it was John from Oregon who had invited us to watch college football at his friend Lee’s house. At first I declined his kind offer to heft the kayaks into the back of his truck and haul them back to Perrys. bBut when he explained that we were at least five kilometers away I gratefully accepted his help. Apparently, people in these parts take care of one another, including visitors.

After our aquatic sports adventure we developed a huge appetites. We went to the local supermarket and purchased a few items for sandwiches and snacks. We then went to Lee’s house to watch football and eat chili with corn bread. The food was excellent but I was already stuffed. The combination of football, American food, and the style of the house sort of made me feel that I was already home, and quite comfortable.

We departed Lee’s place late in the afternoon to catch our last Kino sunset. We were scheduled to return to the States early the next morning. We packed our bags after watching the sun quickly set. Perry came by with two cocktails, sunset mango drinks that fit in perfectly with the local setting. We had made plans to have a last dinner with Perry and Caroline.

They served up an excellent meal including a salad with ingredients from Caroline’s garden and ate pasta, washed done with fine wine. We partook in pleasant conversation and played a few games before we went to sleep.

The Kino experience had ended too fast. Yet we'd passed enough time to see what we came to see. Was it what we expected? I’m not sure. In fact, I do not even recall if I expected anything at all. The brief trip to Kino Bay was relaxing, lovely, yet with enough activities to keep us moderately busy, when we chose to be.

Be warned though. We were told time and time again that during Semana Santa and Summer, Kino turns into a party village. As for the remainder of the year, tranquility and peace here reign supreme.

More about us: http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/

Article first published as Bahia De Kino: Part II, “The Realization” on Technorati.

Bahia de Kino, The Foundation Part 1

2011-12-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

Three years ago while my wife and I traveled around the world for a year, we spent some time in the Mongolian capitol of Ulaanbaaatar before heading into the emptiness of the Gobi Desert. While roaming the streets of the capitol one afternoon, we ran into a Canadian miner at a video game store. He wore a cap and sported a goatee, along with a quasi modern-day mullet. He introduced himself as Maury. When I asked what he was doing in the store he said, “My Mongolian girlfriend plays this Playstation 2 all day while I am at work and it’s broken so I’m getting it repaired. I’m a miner,” he added.

“How long have you been in Ulaanbaaatar ?” I said.

“Way too long,” he answered. “There are three good things about Mongolia. No one shoots at you, no one tries to rob you, and no animals try to eat you.” I looked at him in disbelief and said, “Did you live in a country where these three things were normal?”
“Yeah. Bolivia. I was robbed, shot at, and even animals attacked me. The Mongolians leave you alone but the Bolivians can be treacherous.” I believe I responded, “Jesus Christ!” or “Holy Sh--!”

Maury said, “But I am outta here soon. I have a house in Bolivia that I’m gonna sell and I’m moving to Mexico.” I figured that he was headed to one of the mainstays there for expatriates, either San Miguel de Allende or Lake Chapala near Guadalajara. But his eventual destination, Bahia de Kino, surprised me since I had been pretty much all over Mexico and I had not even heard of the place.

Once he informed me of the town's name, I became curious. He explained that it is a fishing village with a small expat community and now I was hooked. Visions of the beach at the end of the great movie, Y Tu Mama Tambien swirled through my thoughts.

After that brief encounter, we never saw Maury again but Lisa and I continually discussed that we should visit Bahia de Kino. Located in the State of Sonora on the Sea of Cortez, about 115 kilometers west of Hermosillo, it is close enough to the States that I expected to find cheap airfares.

However, not only did the tickets from Los Angeles to Hermosillo prove to be expensive, but the connections and/or long delays between flights were notoriously long. And so we put off the trip to the small fishing village named after Padre Eusebio Kino, a Jesuit missionary who traveled to the region in 1685 and met the indigenous Seri people, who still inhabit the region.

Finally our patience was rewarded and this past Thanksgiving we found a reasonable flight direct from Los Angeles to Hermosillo. We knew that this was our window of opportunity and we quickly purchased two round trip tickets. I then booked four nights at La Casa Tortuga, with its 180 degree ocean views directly from the patio, bedroom and sliding glass door of the well-decorated studio apartment. Our first morning there we awoke to view a dramatic setting with the calm sea, islands with thousands of diving pelicans, and an expansive desert landscape dotted with Saguaro cacti and volcanic mountains.

You will have to wait until next time to discover what else goes on in Kino. Was this town all we had hoped for? Find out in next week’s article!

Article first published as Bahia de Kino: Part I, The Foundation on Technorati.

NEW VIDEO: New Friends in Falealupo

Total Lunar Eclipse Saturday Dec 10, 2011

2011-12-09T08:27:00.000-08:00

There will be a total Lunar Eclipse visible on Saturday December 10, 2011 from 6:06am - 6:57am in the Northern Western United States.

Next Total Lunar Eclipse visible in this area will be April 15, 2014. More information on this photo, Shadow and Substance, click here. There are also amazing graphics that will show you what you can see in the eclipse.

Please use this video from NASA below for more information about the total Lunar Eclipse on Saturday.You do not need a special device to look at a lunar eclipse (they are needed for Solar Eclipse).

Video: A Super Sized Lunar Eclipse

Article first published as Total Lunar Eclipse Saturday Dec 10, 2011 on Technorati.

Author's Note: We did not want you to miss out on this event on SATURDAY morning!
More travel stories on Sunday from us. Want more right now? Go to: www.wesaidgotravel.com

Discovering Algeria: Exploring Timgad

2011-12-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

Guest Post by: Kit Herring
Few people visit Algeria anymore because of internal strife, but I hitchhiked across the country in 1975. Theses are some recollections of the country's greatest archeological site, the Roman city of Timgad, as they appear in my novel, Descending the Cairo Side. Here was once an African center of empire; today the ruins are empty and forlorn:

When I arrived at the nearby modern Algerian settlement, I found that accommodations were scarce. The only lodging proved to be a rather expensive hotel. But I checked in, not wishing to camp in the open. In the lobby I found a map of the ruins.

After securing my belongings and now in a state of bemused contentment, I headed for the ruins, glad that a whole Roman city lay waiting for my investigations. A man at the gate collected a pittance as an entrance fee. It would have been interesting to see if the daily receipts even paid his salary. Certainly, there was not a single other tourist on site. I was completely alone at one of northern Africa’s premium archeological wonders.

The foundations of the town lay ahead, but no buildings stood higher than about three feet. I was somewhat disappointed, thinking foolishly that I would wander the streets of a nearly intact city. This was a naive fancy, of course. The ruins had been picked over for centuries as a source for quarrying stone, and no doubt looters and grave robbers had long ago stolen anything of value that could be easily removed.

I walked down a broad boulevard in the center. The dun-colored stone remains were, in their subtle, discreet fashion, magnificent. A sense of orderliness and tidiness stood out. The city had been planned, much more carefully than were any modern population centers in North Africa. It seemed that the whole thing had been built from a central design. Streets were laid in a grid, and the map I had showed the various public and private buildings, although it would have been hard to discern the function of most of the ruins. On the surface, all was a jumble.

It didn’t take long to tire of picking through the low walls. There weren’t any interesting artifacts lying about, of course, and little in the way of artwork. I was surprised at how fast boredom set in. I felt like an unsatisfied and jaded seeker of lost history.

Yet the scale of Timgad was impressive. The stone-paved streets covered the better part of a square kilometer. Sitting down on top of a crumbling wall, I consulted the map again to see if there were other interesting spots. I had noticed, about a quarter of a mile away, a large structure that looked like a fortress or a castle. It had a non-classical architectural style to my unpracticed eye. What was that?

The structure loomed over the ruins like a giant crashed bird. It was constructed differently from the rest of the city. Although much larger than any other of the stone remnants, it seemed, at this distance, to have been put together from cruder materials. I decided to have a peek. It required a walk outside the perimeter of the Timgad ruins. I read on my map that the fort dated from Byzantine times, which would account for its stylistic singularities. It loomed more and more imposingly as I approached it. As advertised, it indeed was a kind of primitive castle. There was a wide entrance, some twenty feet high, which once may have supported huge wooden doors.

The interior was dark. I pressed on, entering the portico, feeling my way through a great central hall. The fortress was made entirely of small, roughly hewn rocks. Its lines were severe and utilitarian. Above me the ceiling faded into the darkness. Abruptly I tripped over a loose stone in the path, and a loud surprised noise emerged from my throat. Without warning, a great host of bats swooped down from the recesses of the bulwarks, twittering and screeching their eerie cries. I ducked instinctively as they swirled and swooped around me like miniature dive-bombers. It was quite unnerving and I panicked, looking for a speedy exit. They flew through my hair, brushing against my face. I had a flashing thought of rabid animals covering me with tiny painful bites and sprinted for the exit. The bats decided not to follow, but I continued running blindly for a hundred yards, finally coming to rest on the base of a column. The cries of the bats were still audible from within the gloom.

I panted, staring back at the Byzantine fort. This was not part of the bargain. God, bats! I looked around the area for a time, bewildered. The fun had gone out of this expedition. Making my way back to the ruins in the city, I attempted to busy myself studying the vestiges of Roman life, but my curiosity had taken a blow. It felt as though I had been rejected by this place, that it had no connection for me. I kicked a few stones around a small plaza, trying to decide what it all signified. I considered what I knew about Roman history. The usual schoolboy facts. Great conquerors, leaders, civilizers. But the stories from my youth no longer seemed relevant. An idea occurred to me, courtesy of the attacking bats. Maybe the Romans were precursors of a continuum of evil in Europe, proto-nazis from the ancient age. What had they accomplished in subduing and controlling their piece of the known world? Surely, their art, literature and culture counted greatly in the progression of human knowledge, but in the final analysis, their ruins were haunted places, the abodes of night creatures. They enslaved vast regions and peoples in their quest for dominance. The glories of their conquests had long withered, leaving nothing but relics of brutality and fear that gave proof to the lie about empires.

The legions of Rome represented a great leap backward for humanity. The modern history books had it wrong. I walked away from the archeological site, toward the modern town of Timgad, vowing never again to set foot on Roman territory.

From Lisa and George, We Said Go Travel:
Thank you to Kit for this guest post! More from him at http://thebackpackershandbook.com/
Read about his book, Descending the Cairo Side:
http://www.wesaidgotravel.net/2010/10/hitchhiker-on-road.html
More travel news and stories from us here next week.
Want more right now? Go to: www.wesaidgotravel.com
Ready to travel? Go on the Summit this summer with the Penn Glee Club!

Lisa on MSN.com

2011-12-01T18:22:00.001-08:00

My photo on MSN.com today!

It goes with this article:

Lessons from jobs held in your 30s

Finding your passion

After dropping out of medical school in her 20s, Lisa Niver Rajna of Los Angeles traveled for almost seven years on the high seas. “In my 30s, I worked on a cruise ship like Julie McCoy [on the TV series “The Love Boat”] and also worked for two seasons at Club Med. My family said I ran away and joined the circus.”

While some people worried that she might be “wasting her potential,” Niver Rajna discovered that she really enjoyed both traveling and working with the kids’ programs on the cruises. These experiences, plus her educational background, led her to become a science teacher and travel blogger in her 40s.

“I have no regrets about taking this other path,” Niver Rajna says. “Once I decided that leaving medicine was the right choice for me, everything else fell into place. When I am teaching or traveling, I know I am in the right place doing what I am meant to be doing.”

Author's Note: I just had to share my 15 minutes of Fame with you TODAY!! Thanks to everyone who saw it and wrote to me!! Happy Thursday! Lisa

Thanks for all the comments!

Travel Happy Hour TONIGHT

2011-11-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

TRAVEL HAPPY HOUR TONIGHT!
Travel with Technology!
What is your favorite travel app?

TONIGHT!
Tuesday November 29th
Meet fellow travelers and the creators of both Ship Mate and StudioMini! Come to share your favorite app and learn what others are using on the road!

WIN TICKETS to LACMA and Skirball Museums!
First TWENTY people will receive FREE download codes for SHIP MATE APP!!
We also have SHIRTS to give away! Don't miss out!!

Happy Hour Prices for Drinks and Appetizers!
See you at 7pm

X-Bar Century City

Hyatt Regency Century Plaza
2025 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067
310.551.3332

PARKING: $8 with validation or 2 hours free at Century City Mall

Want more about APPS right now? Check out favorite travel apps from outstanding travelers!
http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/apps.html

Give Thanks! Take Two!

2011-11-28T08:39:00.001-08:00

Osprey with fish in Bahia de Kino

Although the post "GIVE THANKS!" posted on Sunday...it seems it did not send out an email. Please find it below! Osprey photo from our weekend in Bahia De Kino. Look for an article about it soon from George.

Sunday's POST:
We are excited to share our news! Lisa's article was published in Vagabundo magazine. We traveled to Taiwan last year and went to Penghu which is called the Hawaii of Taiwan!

Here is the first paragraph from "The Elusive Matsu Pilgrimage of Penghu"

Many of my trips involve searching, sometimes for an interesting place or festival but sometimes the journey leads inward. During our eleven-month sojourn in South-East Asia we find in Laos a brochure of Taiwan and its images capture my attention. While reading more about the island nation, I discover a festival in honor of Matsu, the goddess of Taiwanese fisherman. That seals a decision — the next journey George and I take will be to Taiwan.
Continue reading this article at Vagabundo Magazine: http://www.vagabundomagazine.com/the-elusive-matsu-pilgrimage-of-penghu/

NEW PAGE on our website all about Travel Apps!
There are incredible apps used by outstanding travelers listed on our site. I cannot wait to use all the recommended apps! I have had a kindle since 2008 and George just bought me the new KINDLE FIRE! I love it and cannot wait to travel with technology!!
See our new Travel Apps page: http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/apps.html

From Lisa and George, We Said Go Travel:

See you TUESDAY Nov 29 at X-Bar in Century City for our next event, "Travel with Technology: My favorite Travel app!" Meet the founders of Ship Mate!

More travel news and stories from us next week. Want more right now? go to: www.wesaidgotravel.com

Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you enjoyed the holiday with your families and friends. Send us your stories! We would love to hear how you celebrated! Lisa and George

Give Thanks!

2011-11-27T16:32:00.000-08:00

We are excited to share our news! Lisa's article was published in Vagabundo magazine. We traveled to Taiwan last year and went to Penghu which is called the Hawaii of Taiwan!

Here is the first paragraph from "The Elusive Matsu Pilgrimage of Penghu"

From Lisa and George, We Said Go Travel:

Give Yourself Time: The Joy of Taking a Break

2011-11-20T09:47:00.000-08:00

Friends and family ask us, “How do you do it? How do you manage to leave for a year?” Others say, “You are crazy; I would never do that!” These people usually think of the dictionary definition of a vagabond as “…a person who wanders from place to place without a home or job.” I prefer Ralph Potts’ definition in his book Vagabonding:

‘Vagabonding’ is about taking time off from your normal life — from six weeks, to four months, to two years — to discover and experience the world on your own terms.

In this season of Thanksgiving, I reflect on what Seth Godin said last year:

A modern Thanksgiving would celebrate two things: The people in our lives who give us the support and love we need to make a difference, and… the opportunity to build something bigger than ourselves, something worth contributing. The ability to make connections, to lend a hand, to invent and create.

When we departed to realize George’s dream of travel in SE Asia, I wrote every month to my friends and former students, wondering at the time if anyone would read our words. Would I make a difference if I wrote at all? I remembered Ralph Waldo Emerson’s thoughts:

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

Leaving both our homes and our careers can free us to think about our path and what we want to do with our lives. If you are considering a long vacation or a career break you might ask, “From where am I leaving and how might I find a purpose? What will the trip be like? What will happen in this new unknown world?”

A Sabbatical may allow us to step back so we might give more to our lives in the future. An academic study, Sabbatical Leave: Who Gains and How Much? conducted by researchers from the US, Israel and New Zealand, researches this question. The study concludes: “Sabbatical leave promotes well-being…the present study confirmed the beneficial effect of a respite on positive well-being.”

Maybe we cannot all take a year-long sabbatical but at least we may find a sabbatical second or moment to acknowledge our dreams and pull our lives more into focus, and become closer to making our dreams come true. Support someone else’s idea for a Gap Year, Mini-retirement, Big Trip or Sabbatical—between stages of life, after college, or after the home nest empties.

Last year passed without a National Meet Plan Go event in Los Angeles. I discovered that no one had volunteered to host the occasion. So this year, we facilitated the day, and drew an incredible panel with a sold-out crowd of over a hundred attendees. I wasn’t sure how to bring the event to fruition, but as with all such tasks, the journey began with a first step.

This Thanksgiving season I am grateful for a support team that allows me to ship early and helps to make my dreams come true. For many of us who have left “the rat race” with a sabbatical or career break, we realize that the journey is for the sake of the adventure and that we can be transformed by our travels. I hope that you will put one foot in front of the other and proceed firmly in your life to make your dreams come true. Find a tribe that understands our world, takes care of our planet and also supports its members.

I hope that this during this Thanksgiving and holiday season, you can carve time out of your schedule and not be permanently tied to your Blackberry, carpool, office or deadlines, to focus on realizing your dreams, whether they involve travel or something that only you can imagine.

For a moment, a year, or a lifetime.

This article was first published as part of The Happy Thanksgiving Magazine for Squidoo.

Want to know more about our event Meet Plan Go Los Angeles from October 18, check out the video!

Meet Plan Go Giving Back
MPG Los Angeles hosts, George and Lisa Rajna (the creators of We Said Go Travel), participate in community lives when they travel and support those in need – whether it’s Burmese refugees in Northern Thailand, the Jewish World Watch Solar Oven project to help people acquire the tools they need to improve their lives, or importing purses fabricated from local tapestries made by Kazak women to better provide for their families. The idea of sharing profits from the Meet, Plan, Go! event with others came as a natural continuation of their other works.

Lisa Napoli, who wrote Radio Shangri-La and participated on the Los Angeles panel, has been working to help create a library in Mongar, Bhutan through her project, Books to Bhutan. She says, “Please help us bring the joy of books and reading to these kids, who are so eager to learn.” As teachers and library lovers, the Rajnas know that supporting Lisa’s project with the profits from their event made a perfect match; they’ve sent $300 to help fill the shelves in Mongar with books. If you would like to help add more to the library, please use this link.

From Lisa and George, We Said Go Travel:

We wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday with your families and friends. We are off to a tiny fishing village we learned about in Mongolia from a Canadian guy who lived in Bolivia and had a house in Mexico. We will tell you all about it!

We hope to see you Nov 29 at X-Bar in Century City for our next event, "Travel with Technology: My favorite Travel app!" Meet the founders of Ship Mate! More travel news and stories from us next week. Want more right now? go to: www.wesaidgotravel.com

Tasting with the Napa Wine Project

2011-11-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

Please enjoy this Guest Post from Dave at Dave's Travel Corner:

Deter Family Vineyards

Thanks to George and Lisa for this guest post!

I first met them early this year at a travel blogging event at the Biltmore in downtown and have since been to several of their events including the very well attended Meet Plan Go event last month where I poured wines from smaller Napa producers.

Nearly 6 years ago I started the Napa Wine Project. Iwanted to create a unique project on a large scale and decided to try and review all wineries in Napa by personally visiting them, meeting the owners and tasting the wines. I chose Napa because of its excellent International reputation and its wine
regions are fairly well defined along a small valley surrounded by hillsides. Of course, when I started
the project - I didn't realize there are approximately 900 producers making wine commercially
in the Napa Valley!

Over time I have explored many of the off the beaten path wineries, individual appellations (wine regions within Napa Valley), met with some very interesting people from all walks of life, tasted some stellar wines and certainly increased my own knowledge of all aspects of the wine industry. In the process I hope I've created a resource that is valuable for both consumers and the trade.

Etude

My goal is still the same, and six years later I am a bit closer to reaching it - I've now visited the winery (or with a representative if there is no physical winery), tasted the wines and written reviews of over 670 commercial wine producers/wineries in Napa (including a number thathave moved out of Napa or gone out of business in the last six years). Look for my 700th review sometime in early to mid 2012!

The Napa Valley sometimes gets a bad rap for being too high class or pretentious - but nothing could be further from the truth - especially if you take some time to explore this beautiful region. There are a few larger wineries that get much of the publicity -but by numbers, 95% of the producers in the Napa Valley are small (under 1000 cases) and are family owned.

There is a section of the Napa Valley along Highway 29 that locals sometimes refer to as "the wine strip"- this is the most visited winery part of the valley (larger tasting rooms, better known wineries) and on a busy summer weekend traffic can stack up significantly along the highway at certain times of the day. In addition, some of the more popular tasting rooms here might have lines around the bar
just to taste their wines.

Cuvaison

There are well less than 100 wineries in Napa that do not require appointments and you can just walk in during their normal business hours. By numbers, most of the wineries in Napa require advance appointments. For more personalized experiences, I highly recommend making appointments at some of these smaller wineries. Often you can visit with the owner or winemaker and learn more about the entire process of making wine. Or if you want to visit the larger wineries, consider visiting during the winter season or during the middle of the week for fewer crowds.

Napa Valley produces only about 4% of the state of California's entire wine production. Quality is
paramount here rather than quantity. Vintners continue to strive to improve the quality of each
vintage. And as most winemakers will tell you, "80% of winemaking is conducted in the vineyard."

The winemaking community refreshingly is an environment where information is shared, rather than guarded. Winemakers as a whole are willing to discuss how they make wine and answer a variety of questions about the industry.

Harlan

I'm always happy to answer any questions or provide winery recommendations for this special region. You can contact me at: @davedtc, www.facebook.com/davestravelcorner, www.napawineproject.com or www.davestravelcorner.com

From Lisa and George, We Said Go Travel:
We appreciated Dave's participation in our October Travel event and are so happy to host his guest post this week on our blog.
Thank you to Dave!!

We hope to see you Nov 29 at X-Bar in Century City for our next event, "Travel with Technology: My favorite Travel app!" Meet the founders of Ship Mate! More travel news and stories from us next week. Want more right now? go to: www.wesaidgotravel.com

I love Lucy! What is in your backpack?

2011-11-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

I love Lucy clothes! Just like the ads claim they are perfectly packable. While stuck inside for a couple of days in torrential rain while cooking upstairs at Fifita’s guesthouse in Pangai, Ha’apai, Tonga, Dwight asked me “Who is Lucy? And why is her name on all your clothes?”

It is true nearly everything in my backpack is from the Lucy store, on our summer trip in Tonga and Samoa this summer, I had two shorts, two capris, one long pants, half a dozen t-shirts and a long sleeve shirt all from the store. My one skirt and one zip up warmer shirt are also great Lucy products. Nothing wrinkles, the fabric is easy to clean and the colors are great. I figure why go anywhere else?

When we were away traveling for a year in SE Asia, I lost so much weight when we came home I needed clothes in a new size. I had already discovered Lucy clothes but now became a walking store.

As Laura Fraser says in her new book, All Over the Map “My desires—to be free and to belong, to be independent and to be inextricably loved, to be in motion and to be still—pull me back and forth.” Luckily I can use my Lucy clothes at my job, on my two-mile walk to work and for travel. If only everything fit my life this well!

One thing I am so happy about is the new Everyday Pant! Last year I wore my four pairs (I have them in every color) every day from October to April. I had hoped that the new version would be more slim leg and it is and they look great on! I like the new gray asphalt color and the new band at the waist is comfortable and flattering! I am glad they got rid of the zippers at the bottom of the pants because I never knew what those were for! Like all Lucy clothes they never wrinkle and wash and dry perfectly. The new fabric feels great, is lightweight and they are definitely my favorite pants.

At another time Fraser states in All Over the Map, “Almost anyone who is middle-aged can give you a long list of things that have gone wrong or that didn’t turn out the way they expected. But at least by now we have some measure of experience and wisdom to deal with it all. Things definitely aren’t easy for anyone.” She is a consummate traveler and does describe finding her own way by the end of this story but one thing I can tell you as a fellow traveler, some things can be easy! Shop at Lucy and you will have great clothes to wear and pack!

Author's Note: We are posting on a SATURDAY instead of our usual SUNDAY so that you do not miss out on the ONE DAY SALE at LUCY.COM and in the stores! Get to lucy.com or a store near you--this 25% off Birthday Sale only happens ONCE a year!! Get something for you and a gift for someone you love!!

More news and stories next Sunday! Save the date: Nov 29 for our next Los Angeles Travel event: Travel with Technology: My Favorite Travel App. Our website: www.wesaidgotravel.com