Well, I think I mentioned (probably ages ago - alas!) that I was planning to prepare a Special Report for Road Warrioresses, Perpetual Travelers, and solo women travelers on "Packing for the Long Haul." It is underway at last! And I have a publisher awaiting final copy.
A few posts from the blog are included - often expanded. Lots of new material, though. The back of the book will include handy charts or tables so you can prepare a packing list for each of your trips, update it on the road, if necessary, and keep track of what you need and what you have.
It will first be published as a Kindle Edition e-book available from Amazon.com. The nice thing about Kindle books is that they can be downloaded to so many gadgets and gizmos. Kindle books are not just for Kindle readers - there's Kindle for PC, as well as apps for tablets, iPads, and whosits and whatsits. Amazon's website includes complete details on usable devices, as well as free downloads of the various apps.
Once you buy a Kindle book from amazon, you can access your purchase on all of your various electronic equipment. So you can read materials on your laptop or notebook one day, and on a Kindle or tablet at the beach the next. You can look up something in hurry on your iPad, iPod, or whatever. I've become rather fond of Kindle!
I assume the publisher will get an edition up on Barnes & Noble's Nook, although they plan to release on Amazon first.
As soon as this is done and available online, I'll let you know! We're working out some way to reward this blog's readers with some sort of win-a-freebie, discount, or something. So watch for details. They'll be posted as soon as available.
Here are details available so far:
Author: Ann Teller (that's me! LOL!)
Title: Packing for the Long Haul: A TravelTellers™ Quick Guide for Road Warrioresses
Publisher: AngeLines Publishing®
ISBN: to be assigned
Price: to be determined
Release Date: to be announced
Hang around for more info! I think you'll all like this and find it useful, so I'm looking forward to sharing more tips, tricks, ideas I gathered while riding the rails through China, continent-crossing on the Trans-Siberian Railroad, business trips, and what-have-you.
May your road rise to meet you!
Best regards, Ann
The New York Times annual Travel Show launches Friday, 26 February, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. Among the seminar offerings, April Merenda of Gutsy Women Travel moderates a panel of travel writers "overviewing appropriate tours and destinations for women...."
How dare they? What's "appropriate" for one woman is no more appropriate than one man's for another. Different people have different interests and inclinations. It is up to the individual to determine what might be suitable or interesting or relaxing or invigorating. That is not the purview of a travel writer or travel agent. I found the entire notion - and the New York Times write-up on this seminar - totally offensive.
I was the only single expat woman working in the oilfields of Indonesia years ago. While some might think that "inappropriate," I was the one living and working in what, by any measure, was a hardship post. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I spent months "riding the rails" through China and the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Difficult going solo, but hardly an inappropriate journey nor the greatest of adventures. Difficult, yes; dangerous, not particularly.
Go where the spirit moves you, or where the job takes you. Only you can determine what's appropriate for you. You decide what interests and excites you. You decide where and how to live, work, travel. As long as it's legal and within your boundaries for risk tolerance, go for it. Adventure awaits!
And it would be so terribly sad to miss something great because someone else determined it wasn't "appropriate" for women. The Victorians put up with enough of that errant nonsense.
May your road rise up to meet you,
Ann
EveryWoman's most critical wardrobe element, and the most versatile, is a travel essential, too. The ubiquitous Trench Coat! Go-with-everything beige or khaki; go-everywhere from Hong Kong to St. Petersburg. With a detachable hood and zip-in wool or cashmere lining, it will take you everywhere except the hottest and humidest tropical downpours or the chilliest Arctic snowstorms.
New raincoats in microfiber and other fabrics promise easy packing. Most are too short to keep you from a real drenching, and are only suitable for gentle Spring or early Autumn weather.
Mine seemed a bit bulky, and I nearly left my Burberry's behind in Hong Kong. Glad I didn't! On chilly airplanes, it served as as a lap-robe or blanket. On the Trans-Siberian Railroad, it made an extra toasty blanket at night. It protected my suit en route to business meetings, no sloppy hemlines from getting splashed by errant puddles and drivers who always seem to shlosh through the muddiest as you await the walk-light.
The detachable hood often ended up padding items in my duffle over the summer months in China, but I needed it badly even before I reached St. Petersburg - already facing the chill of impending winter in September. That zip-in lining over a sweater or other layerings is urgently needed when the thermometer drops.
Wear it on the plane, use it for a travel blanket. Wrap the liner and hood around whatever needs a bit of padding in the suitcase until you need it. The belt can be a useful strap for whatever. Above all, it keeps you warm and dry in all but blizzards or the steamiest tropical downpours.
Take it, pack it, but be sure to bring it along!
May your road rise to meet you,
Ann
