I first traveled solo at age 24 and it changed my life. I honestly feel like there was the “Shelley” before that trip, and the me after who had more confidence, self-reliance, adventurousness, fearlessness and an insatiable appetite to see more, more, more. At age 46, traveling solo continues to be a life-changing and life-affirming experience. … Continue reading Traveling Solo in Mexico: Still Life Changing…even in Mid-Life
I saw the 2nd shooting star of my life tonight. My 1st Star: The first was from a mountaintop in Dharmsala, India. I had hiked uphill all day. Too exhausted to hike back down, I camped in a “tea hut” at the top. While sitting outside with other campers drinking from a shared bottle of Old Monk … Continue reading In Bacalar, Mexico My 2nd Shooting Star Was Just As Good As My First
The inside scoop & the local poop: I came to volunteer in Malawi for a few weeks seeking an experience that would let me immerse myself in a local area and local culture, get to know more deeply a particular place and people, and give back to the local community at the same time. Despite … Continue reading The Good, the Bad, and the Compost Toilets at “Butterfly Space” Malawi
If Americans know about Malawi at all, it’s because some years ago Madonna adopted two children from here. Madonna has returned several times and has invested in local schools and communities through her Raising Malawi foundation. Good works for sure, but that is not the sort of “adoptions” I am talking about here. Rather, in … Continue reading Getting “Adopted” in Malawi
We’ve spent the past week in an RV bouncing along bumpy roads while exploring the Elephant Coast/KwaZulu-Natal area of South Africa. Here’s what the girls have to say about it: VIVI'S PERSPECTIVE Vivi’s RV top 5 1. I like seeing all of the animals while driving 2. I like going swimming at the beach … Continue reading RV-ing South Africa: the top 5 & bottom 5 from the kids’ perspective
Time flies. Today was our last day mud hut building at the Home for AIDS Orphans in Zambia. We have Sunday here but “off” from building with a few final activities planned. On Monday we make a side trip to Botswana with the Brits on a 2 day safari. Then Adam arrives and we shift … Continue reading Just when you thought it could not get muddier
A few days ago, me and the girls were volunteering at the local preschool. I was doing an activity inside and Zara one outside, when she shrieked. I missed it, apparently a scary figure in a scary mask had just passed by. It was “The Culture Man,” the preschool teacher said. A man who does … Continue reading The Culture Man Cometh
My penchant traveling for real didn’t start til my 20s. Age 24 specifically, when I went on what was supposed to be a 3 month Europe/Israel trip and came back 13 months later, my travel passions fully kindled and my appetite whet for more. The Beginnings of Crazy Traveling My father would probably say it … Continue reading Putting the “CRAZY” into CrazyTravelers
CrazyTravelerKippahs 