While I’ve Been Grounded. . .

So, I’ve been on assignment recently, and “grounded” of late.  If I can’t roam the world for the moment, I can do it vicariously!  I’ve been reading my favorite type of non-fiction, travelogues.

The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost by Rachel Friedman (NY: Bantam, 2011) is, alas, a Coming of Age story.  Yes, Rachel roams Ireland, Australia, and South America – mostly in the company of an Australian friend.  We end up knowing all about Rachel and Carly, snippets about their backpacker adventures, and little about the countries they roam.  As a coming-of-age story about turning 21 – 22, it’s fun and fascinating.  As a real travelogue, a real feel for these countries is a wee bit sparse.

Rita Golden Gelman, writer of children’s books turned Road Warrioress, presents a far more interesting tale of her travels.  Suddenly faced with divorce in middle age, she flees first to Mexico, then onward around the world.  Tales of a Female Nomad (NY: Three Rivers Press, 2001) is much more than a Coming of Middle Age story, however.

A true Perpetual Traveler, she often has no home at all.  Sometimes she couch surfs or finds homestays with people she meets on the road.  Others, she rents temporary accommodations, albeit for longer stays. 

But Rita gives you a more satisfying insight into countries, cultures, and the humans living within them.

Don’t expect the same from Rita Golden Gelman’s sequel, Female Nomad and Friends, however (NY: Three Rivers Press, 2010).  Here she shares brief tales written by other Road Warrioresses, along with a few recipes picked up around the world.  The recipes are really juicy.  Some of the tales are more about World Improvers out to save the world than about countries and cultures as they are.

Got any good airplane-reading or while-grounded reading to share?

May your road rise to meet you!

Ann

Essential Business Traveler Card for APEC Region

Travel often on business to the APEC Region?  Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation has a unique program to speed pre-approved business travelers through immigration formalities.  It's geared solely to boost trade and investment in the region.  With the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC), you speed through special lanes at immigration checkpoints if you are coming for a short-term stay.

The following countries participate:  Australia, Brunei, Chile, China, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Thailand, Vietnam.  See: www.apec.org/apec/business_resources/apec_business_travel0.html

Most of these countries allow preapproved business travelers 60 or 90 days entry for business purposes without further need for a visa.  It acts something like a multi-country multi-entry business visa.  And it's for citizens of APEC countries.

The US is supposedly a "transitional member."  This means those carrying the ABTC may use the express lanes at airports (same lanes used by airline crews) to enter the US, but still must have their passports plus any normally required visas.  US citizens are not yet eligible to obtain the card for their business trips to member countries.  No wonder US is uncompetitive in international markets and exports are not moving the way they could.  www.businessmobility.org/key/usa.htm

Great idea for Road Warrioresses!  If you are eligible, look into it, and save yourself some hassle at the airports.