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In this first issue of our bi-monthly Newsletter, we are interrupting our usual 5th of the month rubric called 'Not alone traveller' to bring you a story of one amazing lady. She is very close to reaching her UN 193 goal and she is quite loved in the community in general. Read about Lucy Hsu and her plans for this fall, down below.
We wanted to make a note about the Croatian (and, according to our manager who is from Bosnia, also western Balkan's) biggest traveller and travel content creator - Kristijan Ilicic. He made it to CNN with his honey moon travel adventure on the Iron ore train in Mauritania! This is certainly a story worth reading and adventure worthy of some Awards? You can read the full article here.
Meanwhile, we urge you to stay tuned for our next newsletter as we will have finalised the list of our Travel Awards 2022 nominees and open voting by the community on October 21st. If not already, you can sign up for our newsletter down below, at the bottom of this article.
Series fans - you will have noticed that there has been considerable activity in the last month or so, as we are working to upgrade, update and add to our Series across the Board. The 'Mountains' Series now counts for your 'cumulative' score of Series. Meanwhile we have added accessible tripoints to our Border Series, as we believe these points have special appeal for the advanced traveller.
You will have noticed we have been adding to the megaregions of Western Europe, Northern Europe and Australia; the Americas will follow. Our aim is to increase our total count of items by around 10,000 - reaching 70,000 incredible places to visit in the world. Moreover, we are working on expanding our 'Top of the Tops' - and remember, we always welcome input from all of you to include, correct or delete Series items.
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NomadMania meeting in Bergen, September 25th |
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As you might know, we had a meeting in Bergen on September 25th organised by our founder. We were lucky enough to be joined by 4 of our Norwegian members and we are incredibly thankful for their hospitality. We were also joined by two Ukrainians, one of who lives in Poland, while the other one lives in the UK.
Our manager Milana and CTO Daniel were also there, so almost whole core NomadMania team was present. Who'd have thought that somewhat remote Bergen could become such a gathering spot for our community!?
The meeting went long into the night, finishing with as many as 4 attendees rushing out to catch a flight from Bergen airport (BGO) either late in the evening or early in the morning. Talk about travellers' spirit.
We also had a very brief, yet very unforgettable tour of the WHS Bryggen, located in the heart of Bergen city with our member Ketil. It was night and heavy rain, but we certainly enjoyed the local touch and stories with an amazing opportunity to have the place to ourselves, passing through narrow passages and hearing the wooden floors squeak under heavy rain and our soles.
We thank Ketil for this kindness and we urge you all to rethink everything that you might've heard about the northern people being less social or welcoming than some others. Our host certainly painted completely different picture for us.
As always, let us know if you would like to host a NomadMania meeting in your own city or somewhere where you are travelling. As you can see, magic happens quite often at these gatherings.
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Mr Hans Ollongren in Bhutan - his 195th country |
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UN Masters - Sweden gets 15th UN Master |
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In this edition, we join Swedish travel Club100 in congratulations to Mr Hans Ollongren. He is Sweden’s 15th UN Master, currently in a visit to Bhutan, his 195th and final country. Congratulations to Mr Ollongren and to Swedish travel community as well.
As always, we invite you to notify us if you know of any UN Masters that are missing from our infamous list. Anyone with 185 UN countries or more is eligible, as we feature a special part of the list named 'Very close to goal'.
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NomadMania interview - Lucy Hsu |
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Lucy is on her way to join UN Masters 'club' and we are sure she will get there soon. Of Vietnamese origin, this American teacher uses her travels to inspire and teach her students. She has many interesting hobbies and passions other than travel and she combines it all so well. Lots of you know her already as dear travel companion, so here is a bit more about her and stories of her travels.
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November 2016, Pyongyang, North Korea |
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Lucy, tell us something about your early life and how did you become interested in travel?
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Being the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, my childhood was very modest, so the idea of travel was a luxury we couldn’t afford but it still intrigued me. I was definitely impassioned to go to Asia someday to visit my parents’ hometown. Because my whole family fled Vietnam by boat and later, through refugee sponsorship, they were split up to various countries spread all over: United States, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, Vietnam, and China. This was one reason I aspired to travel to see different parts of the world and visit different relatives internationally.
As a young student, I loved Geography and World History. I also had a fascination with maps, globes, and mysteries of the world. I remember devouring books about the Bermuda Triangle, the Egyptian Pyramids, Stonehenge, the Nazca Lines in Peru, the giant Moais of Easter Island, the Loch Ness Monster, and the Yeti of Nepal. I dreamt of visiting all of these places, and I’m happy to share that I did manage to accomplish this in the past 20 years.
When I was 22, having finished university and getting a “grown-up job,” it was one of the most exciting things to get my first passport and to finally be able to afford my first trip overseas!
I went to Italy, the UK, France, and Switzerland. The highlight of my first trip was seeing the Roman Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel, the Louvre, and Stonehenge. When I became a teacher, my favorite subject to teach was Ancient History, and I aspired to visit the greatest Ancient Civilizations around the globe. I often bring back artifacts and pictures to show my students, and I love watching their curiosity about the world grow. There’s a generalized sentiment that students in the United States do not learn enough geography and world events, and I want to change that starting with my own classroom.
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March 2021, Leptis Magna, Libya |
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What is your most preferred style of travel and why? When you travel, what are your biggest interests?
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I look back to 20 years ago when I first started traveling, when I was on a tight budget as a recent graduate. To keep trips affordable, I often resorted to backpacking, local buses, hostels, and homestays. That’s also when I started looking into teaching abroad and volunteer-exchange opportunities.
With American schools closed June-August, I spent these summer breaks teaching or volunteering in new regions. I made time to explore neighboring countries wherever I was based that summer. I also liked having the chance to stay with local families and really getting to know the community and way of life through an authentic exchange.
Aside from immersion with local communities, I mentioned earlier that I love ancient history and civilizations. I find exploring ancient ruins and old towns the most captivating. Now, 20 years later, although I can afford a decent hotel, I still find myself enjoying home stays and volunteerism for the cultural exchange, and I still have the greatest appreciation for ancient ruins and UNESCO sites.
In the last 10 years, I developed a love for mountaineering and hiking, so I’ve incorporated more trekking trips to reach the highest summits in different countries. Some of my favorite and highest treks have been: Mt. Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp, Mt Tiede of Spain, Kazbek in Georgia, and Gerlachovsky Peak in Slovakia.
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November 2014, Antarctica |
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Could you share some travel stories with us, the ones that stay deep in your head and heart?
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Some of my favorite travel memories are from the year 2015-2016, when I left my job in California to live in Africa for 6 months and Asia for 6 months. Being able to travel freely without constraints was very liberating. There was no concern for time and where I had to be. All my possessions were in a backpack, which highlighted how little I needed to feel content.
My longest time in one place was spent in Kenya, where I settled in a township called Githurai for 6 months. At the time, Githurai was one of the toughest slums outside of Nairobi. I joined a community-based organization there. It was such an enriching time where I learned so much about community-development. I took advantage of this extended period in east Africa to visit the most notable places I’d ever dreamed of visiting.
Some of my favorite memories from this time include: camping in the Ngorongoro Crater while on a safari in the Serengeti, reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, trekking in Uganda to see the mountain gorillas, dancing with the Maasai in Kenya, encountering lemurs and magnificent Baobabs upclose in Madagascar, visiting the Rock-hewn Churches in Ethiopia, and swimming in the white sand beaches of Zanzibar and the Seychelles.
After 6 months in Africa, my time in Asia was equally fulfilling as I settled in Myanmar for 5 months. I lived in Tahan, a small rural community, in an orphanage with 20 children of all ages. I spent my time developing educational programs and expanding the orphanage to include a bilingual preschool. While living in Myanmar, I took short trips to explore neighboring countries.
My favorite memories include: hiking to Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan, a safari in Bangladesh to see the Bengal tigers, riding Bactrian camels in the Gobi Desert where I stayed in a Yurt. It was a year of discoveries on many levels. The living conditions were basic, without running water, proper sewage system, or reliable electricity, yet it was the most enriching time of my life. Being far away from friends and family, I hardly felt alone; instead I felt completely embraced by my new community everywhere I went.
My realisation became obvious - how connected and alike we humans are regardless of where we come from. With few possessions and no real home, I felt more at ease than I had ever felt. It was a phenomenal year. It was my first time truly understanding the phrase: “When you’re at peace, any place is home.”
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February 2022, Samarra, Iraq |
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What is it about the travel that gets you excited the most and what keeps you going even when it is tough?
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The world is so vast, varied, and breath-taking! What keeps me going is knowing I will most certainly encounter some extraordinary experience, sight, or interaction. I think we often imagine what a destination will be like, only to be surprised and challenged. I try to fully soak in the destination, all my observations, and all the sensory details without judgment.
People often ask me “is there a place you do NOT like?” I guess my best response is that I fully appreciate the destination and the experience for what it is. Even when I’ve been in some tough places (maybe the living conditions are rough, it’s difficult to navigate, or the people are unfriendly), I find it easy to overlook because I know my time there is limited, and I cherish my time spent soaking it all in, rather than lamenting. I mostly feel deep gratitude for the privilege to travel somewhere, knowing that opportunity can be rare or may not occur again.
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October 2021, Al Ula, Saudi Arabia |
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There is a stereotype that travel is only for free and wealthy people. For many, dreams about travel remain just a dream. What would you recommend for people with a low budget? For sure there are tricks you've learned to see the world and still not spend a fortune?
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In my 20s, I was looking for ways to afford more travel, and I started becoming more versed in earning travel points through using certain credit cards. Every year, I earn several international flights and free hotel stays by redeeming points. There are many low budget airlines these days, for those who don’t mind forgoing some comfort.
Hostels have been a good option for my low budget. I often found hostel stays costing only $5 or less per night, often providing free breakfasts, information on local bus routes, and affordable shared transportation options. I also met experienced backpackers who exchanged valuable tips with me.
I mentioned earlier about teaching abroad and volunteer exchange. The website that I have mostly used over the years is https://www.workaway.info/. It has helped me connect with community-based organizations all over the world. Currently, they have hosts in over 170 countries! What makes Workaway.info different is that volunteers and local hosts do not pay expensive fees to connect with each other. The hosts are usually small grassroots organizations living in and working directly in local communities.
I have made many lifelong friends through Workaway, both with other volunteers and with hosts who I lived with. I’ve had the privilege of watching organizations grow and expand over the years, and even returning to revisit former organizations that I still support. I’ve never had to pay expensive “placement fees” or “administrative fees” to big companies to arrange assignments for me.
The website allows me to connect directly with the community-based organization, read reviews from previous volunteers who stayed with the hosts, and I can search which country I want to work in and specifically what type of work I want to do.
Over the years, I’ve mostly worked in an educational capacity, but I’ve been involved in a vast variety of projects, including environmental projects, animal conservation, horticulture, construction, micro-financing, grant-writing, and more.
Growing up, I believe all the riveting stories of my parents’ harrowing experience as refugees deeply impacted me, so I have often been drawn to opportunities to get involved with supporting displaced people in similar situations. Some of my most memorable experiences were volunteering in Lebanon to provide medical aid to Syrian refugees and providing educational services to Congolese refugees in Kenya.
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March 2021, Leptis Magna, Libya |
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February 2022, Dubai, UAE |
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Which culture/country is the closest to your mentality and which is the most alien, and why?
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Born and raised in the Silicon Valley of California, my life revolves around efficiency and productivity. Life is fast-paced, punctuality is valued, schedules are packed, and deadlines are tight. Being in big, developed cities reminds me of home, which is probably why I usually don’t find my time traveling to big cities to be the most captivating. This is probably why I’m more drawn to secluded places and being fully entrenched in nature.
I like being in rural places where technology and cars are limited. I cherish time spent in villages or places where people live communally and simplistically, being away from technology. It’s a welcome reminder how much joy and comfort can be derived even when we have very little. I find it very refreshing to share laughs with happy people who don’t care for luxuries, materialism, and the excesses of the civilized world.
Some of my favorite experiences living in a more primitive and communal place include: living in a small yurt with a Mongolian family in the Gobi Desert, camping with the Mundari Tribe in South Sudan, dancing with Mudmen of Papua New Guinea’s Asaro tribe, cooking with the Maori people in New Zealand using a hangi underground oven.
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May 2015, Indein Village, Myanmar |
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So what are your most recent trips and your travel plans for 2022?
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My next trip will be in June 2022 to Medyka, Poland (this interview was done during May 2022). Currently back home in California, I’m working with an organization that packs and ships food to Ukraine. I am looking forward to being in Medyka and personally joining volunteers onsite to provide meals and supplies to displaced Ukrainian families.
Aside from travel, I have many other passions such as running, trekking, yoga, and music. I have a few trips planned for 2022 that incorporate these hobbies of mine. In August I will be with a mountaineering group to climb Mt. Whitney (the tallest peak in the United States). In November, I plan to run the Athens Marathon in Greece.
In December, I will return to India for the 4th time. India is a special place to me, as I’ve spent extended time there to refine my yoga practice while earning my certification as a Global Alliance Yoga Instructor in Rishikesh, the birthplace of yoga. This December, I have been invited back to India to teach yoga to children in underserved communities. While there, I intend to combine both my Music degree and Yoga license to create a dual program. And of course in October, I plan to be in Armenia for the Extraordinary Travel Festival!
I’m still awaiting a few countries to open their borders so I can complete my goal of completing 193. Currently, I only have 6 countries left: Syria, Eritrea, Kiribati, Micronesia, Marshall Island, and Nauru. If they open in 2022, I would love to join the esteemed ranks of UN masters who have inspired me over the years.
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February 2022, Baghdad, Iraq |
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June 2014, Salt Flats Uyuni, Bolivia |
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Have you ever been in an extreme situation? Tell us about some of the most exciting.
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The most extreme situation in recent years was being detained at a checkpoint for many hours in the southern part of mainland Yemen. My female friend and I had unfortunately drawn attention to ourselves as traveling foreigners with our faces uncovered. We had an inexperienced guide who advised us poorly.
As a result, we probably engaged with the guards at the checkpoints too much, stopping for conversation, and even having tea, and posing for pictures with them. Finally, a higher ranked official called ahead to a main checkpoint a few miles away. As we arrived, we expected to be questioned, and my friend and I made sure we prepared clear and matching explanations. Fears and worries came to mind, as we had no idea what was going to happen to us.
We explained that we were meeting other travelers in Seiyun, preparing to board the next flight to Socotra Island for a tour. We reassured we were not journalists or politically affiliated, and we had no intention of going toward Sana. At first, they were suspicious and some guards urged us to head back toward Salala, Oman from where we came. We had to explain ourselves to a few higher-ups.
Finally, they put us on the phone with an American diplomat who also questioned and lectured us harshly. We finally convinced them we were harmless and didn’t plan to put ourselves in any dangerous situations. In the end, the higher-up authorities finally gave us permission to continue our journey. We were pleasantly surprised when they apologized for keeping us so long. In the end, they gave my friend some treatment and medication for her injured hand, since she had some carpal tunnel pain she had incurred prior to the trip.
Altogether we had been held more than 4 hours, and it was close to 10pm by then. The guards surprisingly and graciously insisted on bringing us dinner for keeping us so long. Our worries finally vanished by that point and we accepted the offer. When they presented us our dinner, we were so touched… yet amused!
They had specifically requested the chef to make us hamburgers, french fries, and fried chicken, while we were expecting a local meal with Yemeni tea! Obviously, they brought what they perceived as an “American dinner” to suit our tastes. We found that incredibly hospitable, ironic, and sweet.
We did finally make it to Socotra after that!
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February 2020, Socotra, Yemen |
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October 2021, Al Ula, Saudi Arabia |
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Finally, our signature question - if you could invite any 4 people to dinner, from any period in history, who would your guests be and why?
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I would certainly choose Amelia Earhart. As a little girl, I was mesmerized by her life story and greatly inspired by her courage. I look up to her as a hero who rejected constrictive social norms and inspired women to follow their dreams. In fact, she was a big inspiration for me while I studied to get my pilot’s license. I achieved that in 2011 for my 30th birthday.
Another intriguing person I would choose is Frederic Chopin, who is my favorite composer. His music captivated me my whole life, and made me fall in love with playing the piano as a child. I later earned my degree in Music while studying at UC Berkeley. Chopin’s music even carried me through difficult times over the years. Whether performing or competing on stage, or teaching my own piano students now, I still prefer Chopin’s pieces over others.
I would love to meet Mother Teresa. Her life both inspires and baffles me. The public was often captivated by her loving words and obvious acts of compassion; yet I feel her internal struggles, conflicts, pains, and regrets would be fascinating to hear. She had written a series of “Dark Letters” that I would want to discuss with her.
Most of all, I would love to have dinner with my paternal grandfather. He passed away in 1977 in Vietnam, before I was born. He is the only grandparent who I never got to meet, and having the chance to see him and talk to him would give me fulfillment, like completing a missing a piece of my puzzle.
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December 2015, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania |
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Did you like reading this? |
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We thank Lucy for sharing her personal photos with us here at NomadMania.
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Our next 'longer' issue will be out on October 21 when we will bring you our final nominees for NomadMania Awards 2022.
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