A $10,000 + Mistake
Imagine that you were offered a trip anywhere in the world that a paticular airline flew? Where would you go? What would you do?
That happened to me. I was offered a free flight via Ladies Who Launch, ( the franchise I owned for several years) to anywhere I wanted to go that British Airways flew. ANYWHERE!!!
There were so many places on my bucket list, but India kept coming up again and again in my mind. It was exotic, different, and exciting. Culturally I couldn’t think of anywhere else to go that was as exciting sounding as India except maybe Morocco or Kenya and I had already been.
This particular trip was unique. I couldn’t really take anyone with me on the flight because it was a special charter and was for a specific time period, so I was on my own. But I was adventurous, resourceful and socially adept at making friends in strange places, so I packed my bags and took off for the adventure of a lifetime.
It was like a dream come true - except it wasn’t.
I spent over $10,000 + for a guide (I guess my husband if he is reading this now knows, LOL) and I thought that would take care of everything. It did, sorta, except for the lonliness or a chance to go beyond the tourist attractions and temple after temple after temple.
India was not really safe for a lone female traveler at that time, (probably not now either, sans Covid) and anyway, what was I going to do by myself after my private guide dropped me off at 4pm everyday? I didn’t know of any places to go to or know any nice restaurants where it would be appropriate or even pleasant to dine by myself. And everyone told me not to get a cab by myself. So at night I read books on my kindle. I read a LOT of books.
Everyday we spent hours after hours touring endless tourist attractions that I really didn’t want to see, visited their friends who wanted to sell me carpet I did not want to buy and stopped by enough temples to last me a lifetime. They told me women shouldn’t travel alone like me so I felt a little uncomfortable, especially when I had personal needs that weren’t always met with the expediency I would have preferred.
When I signed up for the tour guide, I thought I made it very clear I wanted a unique experience, not something cookie cutter, but my words held no meaning to my tour guides. I think it was then that I decided there had to be a better way to travel and enjoy a place whether you are traveling alone or not, and it shouldn’t have to cost a small fortune either for such a short period of time.
My mistake, (my $10,000 + mistake) taught me a lot and inpsired me to not only go on retreats where someone else has curated a wonderful experience where I am inspired and can discover new exciting things to incorporate in my work but I also offer retreats that take you on a journey of adventure, and invite you to discover new places to explode or capture your imagination, help you to slow down and appreciate the beauty of the moment and bring together wonderful people who create memories together and friendships that last a lifetime.
xo, jan