wanderlisa

"We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us."

[wanderlisa]

Skydiving

I always said to myself that whenever I made it to New Zealand I would go skydiving. As I was planning my trip to Australia and New Zealand it was in the back of my mind but I tried not to think about it too much.

I ended up breaking my elbow 12 days before my trip. I thought, “Well, there goes skydiving.” I had travel insurance so it was no problem rebooking my trip for a month later. (I always recommend buying travel insurance for international trips. I use World Nomads.) I was in a sling for five weeks – luckily no cast – and couldn’t stop thinking about skydiving and feeling disappointed. (And yes, I realized the irony of thinking about an extreme sport while having an injury from biking to work.) At my last doctor’s appointment before my trip my X-rays looked good. I asked my doctor if I could go skydiving on my upcoming New Zealand trip and he said yes!

Skydiving was going to be happening about a week into my trip so I tried to not think about it. There was no point getting myself psyched up days in advance. I spent a few days solo traveling in Sydney, which I absolutely loved, and then I joined a group trip in New Zealand. I went with an organization called Under 30 Experiences (it’s actually for those under 35). My sister and some friends had been on their trips and recommended it.

New Zealand is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my life. We toured the South Island, which is supposed to be the more beautiful island. I was constantly in awe of my surroundings. I especially loved Queenstown, which might now top Cape Town as my favorite city in the world. Queenstown is the “adventure capital of the world” and where I would be going skydiving.

Six people in my group signed up for skydiving. We were scheduled for a Thursday afternoon. That morning the whole group took a short flight on a small plane to Milford Sound. The scenery out the window was absolutely stunning. I started getting nervous thinking that I would be jumping out of a similar plane over a similar landscape later in the day.

We took a short cruise in Milford Sound and then headed back on the plane to Queenstown. Now I was really nervous. Right after getting back to Queenstown the six of us had to head to the skydiving office. We signed forms and paid a lot of money. We were then shuttled outside of the town to the skydiving location. It was a beautiful sunny day. We had to sit outside for a while until it was our group’s turn. There was a grassy field where every so often tandem skydiving duos would land with their big colorful parachutes. Everyone looked so happy. It made me feel a lot better so I tried to think about how I would feel after landing and not focus on the jumping part.

After waiting around for a couple of hours we were finally called. It was a whole production to get dressed in our skydiving outfits – a jumpsuit, helmet, goggles, and harness. We were given markers to write messages on our hands for the camera. I wrote “Hi Mom.” I was going to wait until after I went skydiving to tell my mom. We watched a short instructional demonstration where we learned the proper position for jumping out of an airplane – the banana – where your body is facing downwards, parallel to the ground, with your legs and arms bending upwards.

There was an option to pay more to get GoPro pictures and video from our skydive. Obviously we all paid more for that. Before I went on the plane I met Will, the person I would be strapped to, and he filmed a short introduction video of me, asking if I was nervous. I was only slightly nervous at this point. Will said he’s done this 9,800 times! I was in good hands.

I was the last person in my group of six to get on the plane which meant I would be jumping first. There were also three other pairs who got on after me, and because I was sitting on the left side, one person in my group would be jumping before me. I was fifth in line. We sat on the floor of the airplane on what looked like two blue padded gymnastic balance beams in the order we would be jumping, facing the back of the small plane. Will slid back before me and started strapping my harness to his.

The plane took off and I started getting really nervous. This was it, there was no backing out now. The view out the window was beautiful but I wasn’t paying any attention to it. Will started filming and was cracking jokes. I wasn’t having it and asked him to please stop. Looking around the airplane, everyone was quiet and seemed nervous. It was also too loud to hear anyone except Will. He kept tugging on the straps, testing them. I felt safe but still couldn’t believe I was about to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.

Once we reached 12,000 feet a light next to the door went on, indicating the door would be opening soon. And then all of a sudden everything was happening in fast motion. The door opened and the first pair approached the edge. Before I could even process it the first four pairs had jumped, one after the other, and it was my turn. I was a puddle of nerves. We scooted to the edge, were sitting there for a couple of seconds, and then Will pushed us and we were falling. I started screaming. I didn’t know which way was up and felt air pushing at me from all sides. I felt my stomach drop and was tumbling downwards. My first thought was “I don’t like this.” My second thought was “Oh My God I can’t breathe.” I stopped screaming and started gasping for air. Nobody said anything about not being able to breathe. Even while in free fall I was logically able to think that the more we fell the more air I would have. I was able to stay calm but I was not enjoying this at all. The 45 seconds of free fall felt like an eternity. And then finally Will opened the parachute. I’m impressed that he was able to do that with one hand while filming with the other hand.

As the parachute opened we slowed down significantly and the chaos around us turned into quiet and calm. We were the only ones I could see in the air and we were flying. Or falling slowly. I was able to breathe again and I calmed down. I was finally able to appreciate the breathtaking view. There was a gorgeous blue lake below us and mountains and green pastures surrounding us. Will told me to put my hands out in front of me and wave to the camera. I did that and quickly put my hands back on my harness. I know it didn’t make a difference if I was holding on or not but it made me feel more secure. Even though I calmed down a lot we were still thousands of feet up in the air and it was scary to think about. It took about four or five minutes after the free fall to land. This was my favorite part. I could see the grass field getting closer and closer. Will told me to raise my legs so I wouldn’t break a leg. That I could do. I did not want any more broken bones. We landed and I felt such a sense of relief. It felt so good to be sitting on the ground.

I felt shaky and I think that was the adrenaline. Within a couple of minutes I met up with everyone in my group who landed right after me. Some people were saying they wanted to go again. That was a hard no for me. It reminded me of getting off a roller coaster and some people want to go again and others are completely done. I’m so proud of myself and glad I did it but I think it was a one time thing for me. I learned from this that I am definitely not an adrenaline junkie.

We had to wait around a while longer to get our photos and videos but it was completely worth it. It was a long day and we were excited to get back to the rest of the group and relay our adventure to them.

Thinking about it now, the scariest moment of my life was sitting on the edge of the plane, about to jump and knowing there was no turning back. I still can’t believe I did this and I probably won’t do it ever again, but I do recommend trying it one time. It’s something you can tell your grandkids one day.

[wanderlisa]

Everest Base Camp Recap

On Wednesday, April 18 our group of 23 women made it to Everest Base Camp. We were accompanied by porters and guides, including Nepali teenage girls and boys (ages 15-17) who helped carry our bags. They are the real heroes. It took eight days to arrive at Base Camp and another four to get back down. It was both physically and mentally very tough.

However, the views were incredible and made our toil worth it. Seeing the snow-capped Himalaya mountains in person is truly spectacular. Every day was beautiful and I was constantly in awe of the crystal-clear “milky river,” the mountains, the terrain, and the trees. It was also really cool witnessing the Nepali culture. There are colorful prayer flags everywhere, and walls and stupas with prayers. I recommend visiting the Himalayas. There’s nothing like experiencing this region in person. There are much shorter hikes you can do and still experience the beauty.

I found this trek a lot tougher than Kilimanjaro. That hike was much shorter (7 days vs. 12 days) and the actual hiking for the most part wasn’t as difficult. This trip made me realize that I never want to do a hike longer than seven days. I’m going to take a break from long hikes for a while but I’m definitely very grateful for this experience.

Some more info: - I went with an all-women’s organization called WHOA Travel, the same organization I hiked Kilimanjaro with. - You don’t stay in tents, you stay in “tea houses” (essentially very basic hostels) in villages along the route. They are all very similar, with the best ones having cold running water and Western-style toilets, and the worst having no water and squat toilets shared by too many people. Only the main room is heated so the bedrooms are absolutely freezing! - Each tea house serves food that you can order from a menu. The menus feature a lot of carbs and fried foods – lo mein, French fries, dal baht (a traditional Nepali lentil stew with rice), eggs, toast... Our group avoided cheese and meat out of fear of getting sick. I really missed salad and healthy food. A few afternoons we were served slices apples – I will never take fruit for granted again. - Toilet paper becomes a hot commodity. You have to bring your own and they sell it in the villages. And I’ve never used so much hand sanitizer in my life! - The higher you get on the mountain the more expensive things in the villages are. It takes a lot of effort to carry supplies high up on the mountain. It’s usually carried by porters and yaks. (So many yaks!) - I took 2 showers in 12 days and most people in my group didn’t take any. You will be dirty. - The hike quickly becomes routine – wake up early, eat breakfast, hike for about 4-5 hours, have lunch, hike for another 3 or 4 hours, have afternoon tea followed by dinner, and go to sleep around 8:30. And repeat.

I have so much more to say but this is a short recap for now. (Check out my photos on Instagram: @wander.lisa)

[wanderlisa]

Between Two Mountains

It’s March 8, 2018, exactly two years since I stood on the roof of Africa, at 19,341 feet – the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Because of this accomplishment, International Women’s Day has taken on a special significance for me. With every passing day Kilimanjaro is becoming a distant yet fond memory. It’s been two years since I’ve pushed myself so hard physically, and even mentally. I’m ready for another challenge.

And it’s coming in a little over a month – Everest Base Camp. The ultimate hike. Two weeks of being outside in the elements and experiencing nature at it’s finest. I’m so excited, and so nervous. 

During this time between my two big hikes I have been reflecting on how I ended up here. I was never a hiker. Kilimanjaro was a completely spontaneous trip that I booked five weeks in advance. It was my first time sleeping in a tent. Seriously! And now I’m going to be hiking to Everest Base Camp. It’s crazy.

So many people think what I’m doing is amazing, but you can do it too. These are all cliches but they’re true: Travel. Live your dreams. Life’s too short. Don’t have regrets. 

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Below is an email from Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen that helped convince me to take a leap and follow my dreams two years ago. (Emphasis mine.)

Here are a few things to consider:

a) If you don't give yourself this opportunity to travel you will always regret it and never be fully satisfied in the job you might get as you'll have the unsatisfied travel bug

b) Having traveled for a while you may gain more clarity and insight into what you actually want to be doing with your life - it may considerably affect what job you look for and direction you take.

c) Life is not about your career - it's about growing and experiencing

d) There is no guarantee you'll get the job you want if you don't travel, nor that you won't get the job you want if you do travel

e) In fact many companies are looking for people with world experience and all the good knowledge and character traits it brings

f) When you look back on your life when you are 90 you won't be thinking 'wow, what a beautiful office I had, what an amazing report I wrote' you will be thinking ‘what amazing experiences I had, how much I grew as a person, how much I broadened my perspective’

g) Around now is possibly your last chance - next job may be quite permanent, then marriage and family (b'ezrat Hashem) - now is the time

h) You don't have to totally get rid of the fear of being irresponsible - You can feel the fear and still do what you know is right for you and want you really want to do ... 

Dov Ber Cohen

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And here is a text conversation around the same time with my friend Andrea, which also helped convince me to follow my dreams. I hope it will inspire you as well. (My texts are blue.)

[wanderlisa]

Bike paths and barriers

I decided not to bike to work on Tuesday. I usually do, but it was cold and I was feeling lazy. Plus, it was Halloween and I worried it would be dangerous to bike home at night. How ironic. On that Halloween day, eight people were murdered on the very bike path that I use to get to work most days.

It happened two days ago and I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s the closest I’ve ever felt to a terrorist attack. I could have been on that bike path. My friends could have been on that bike path. Yes, it happened in the middle of the afternoon, but what if it was rush hour or a different day? It’s so scary to think about but I can’t help it.

I’ve felt safe on that bike path. I know the 8-mile stretch of the Greenway I commute on so well. I know every bump on the road, every turn, and when to swerve to avoid potholes. The Greenway is one of my favorite parts of living in the city. I love biking to work and passing through the different neighborhoods.

I’m such a cautious cyclist. I always wear a helmet, I stop at red lights, and I slow down at corners when cars are making right turns. I even put up my hand and look each driver in the eye to make sure they see me. And yet, when someone intentionally mows down cyclists there is nothing you can do.

I decided to bike to work on Wednesday, the day after the terrorist attack. I felt like I needed to, to show that the terrorists will never win. We get back on our bikes and keep on riding. A lot of other cyclists must have felt the same way – the bike path was crowded! It was also complete insanity downtown. The Greenway and West Street were closed for miles. There were police cars and yellow police tape everywhere. By Chambers Street there were dozens of news vans and reporters. I’ve never seen so many.

I didn’t end up biking home last night so today was the first day I biked past the site of the crime. I had to be on the east side this morning, so this evening was the first time I was back on that path. That approximately 20-block stretch where the attack happened is usually one of my favorite parts of my bike ride home. Downtown has many streets intersecting the bike path, so you need to watch out for traffic lights, barriers, pedestrians, and cars turning on top of you. Once I get past that I feel like I can finally relax and go fast. Tonight, it was different. I approached that stretch of the bike path with anticipation. I could see flashing lights up ahead and I was nervous. As I approached bike traffic slowed down. There were a lot of reporters as well as pedestrians taking photos. There was already a memorial set up and I saw people carrying bouquets of flowers. I slowed down a lot to take it all in. I was unexpectedly overcome with emotion and started tearing up a little. While biking along that stretch, I thought of the truck. But mainly I thought of the victims. I felt in a way like I was honoring them by thinking of them and by biking along that stretch.

It was a very odd experience, and it got even stranger the farther north I went. Every single block had a concrete barricade and large orange traffic cones. (They’re not really cones; they’re the more substantial ones that can’t be run over.) There was certainly no way a car would be able to get onto the bike path now. Instead of making me feel safe, these barriers made me feel uncomfortable. Why are we building walls when we should be building metaphorical bridges? I’m all for safer roads for pedestrians and cyclists, but this seems like the wrong approach. This attack happened on the safest pathway in Manhattan. Like I said earlier, if someone wants to cause destruction they will. We need to keep our spirits up and keep on biking on.

(Note: this post isn’t exactly travel-related, but my favorite way to explore my city and the surrounding areas is by bike. When I visit new neighborhoods it sometimes feels like I’m on a mini-vacation.)

[wanderlisa]

Everest, India, and Privilege

For me, there’s really nothing like the excitement of booking a trip. When I signed up in February for WHOA Travel’s Everest Base Camp hike in April of 2018 (yes, 14 months in advance), I was literally jumping up and down with excitement. I called a couple of my WHOA Kilimanjaro friends and we quickly signed up before it sold out in something like 12 hours. It’s pretty incredible that a trip 14 months away sold out so quickly.

Having this trip booked has kept me going this year. I realized that I thrive when I have the opportunity to travel. This has been a tough year for me, and my only big trip was to Nicaragua and Costa Rica this summer. And while I complain that I “only” went on one trip, I am also extremely conscious that this is a #firstworldproblem. It’s a balancing act for me to have serious wanderlust yet also be so aware of how lucky I am to do all this traveling, and realize that there are so many people who do not have this privilege.

Do other people have these issues? I feel like I kind of deal with the guilt of my privilege by trying to visit developing countries and going on volunteer trips. And honestly, I really prefer those trips. The people I’ve met feel so real. They’re not hiding behind materialism and they know what is really important in life. That’s something I can really relate to.

This blog post is a little more all over the place than usual, but I guess I have a lot of thoughts running through my head. The reason I brought up Everest besides my continued excitement is that I finally booked my flight today, so I’m feeling that same sense of exhilaration as when I first booked the trip back in February. My friend and I are going to spend about two and a half days in India after the hike. I’m all about passport stamps, so I’ll never say no to the chance to explore another country, however briefly.

I’ve never had a strong desire to go to India but I’m excited to see the Taj Mahal and witness a little bit of the culture. I feel like I understand the poverty in Africa to an extent (and that’s definitely an overgeneralization) but India seems worse. I’m honestly kind of scared of it. A few years ago I read Katherine Boo’s Behind the Beautiful Forevers, a nonfiction account of the terrible poverty in India. The book focuses on people who live in slums and sort through piles of garbage – not to make a living, but rather to survive. I couldn’t even finish the book, it was too hard to read. I’m not going to Mumbai, so maybe I won’t see quite that level of poverty, but I’m sure it will be an eye-opening experience.

I can’t believe I’m going to India and Nepal in less than six months. Stay tuned for a full account of my trip!

[wanderlisa]

Nicaragua’s Trash Problem

Last week I came back from an amazing trip to Nicaragua and Costa Rica. I feel refreshed and invigorated. As someone who loves traveling, it's been very hard starting a new job this year and not having many vacation days. Traveling is definitely an addiction, and the more I travel the more I want to continue traveling. When I was in Costa Rica I was very tempted to extend my trip to visit Panama. It was right there!

This trip was my third consecutive trip with Justifi, a Jewish social justice organization which runs trips around the world. I went to Peru two years ago and Thailand last year. I really enjoy the combination of volunteering and touring. I am extremely conscious that traveling is a privilege so I appreciate having the opportunity to give back during my trips.

Unfortunately I didn't find the volunteer work as meaningful on this trip but I still learned a lot. In Nicaragua we drove to a poor village outside of the main city of Granada and picked up trash. We cleared a field which will become a school lot and then played soccer with the kids. We also picked up garbage on the muddy, unpaved streets in the village and I nearly gagged. It smelled like raw sewage and was pretty disgusting. However, it was nice to see the whole community come together to help us. It's their home, so I'm glad they realized the importance of contributing to taking care of it.

The next day we arrived at a large, beautiful lake and met up with some students. We were told we would be picking up trash together. Again. I was not happy. On other Justifi trips we played with kids, taught them English, installed water filters in homes, and learned about human trafficking. We worked on projects that were very specific to the type of communities we were visiting. I would have preferred those types of projects. I knew I was being picky but I did pay for this trip, so it wasn't like I signed up specifically to pick up trash. I could have done that much closer to home.

The kids we were joined by to pick up trash were part of The Peace Project. This is an organization that, in their words, "facilitates access to education in order to empower disadvantaged communities in Nicaragua to seek better opportunities in employment, while promoting peace and environmental awareness and contributing to the conservation of protected areas in Nicaragua and the broader community." I'm all about environmental organizations so I decided to suck it up and give it a chance. Each Justifi participant paired up with a few middle school-aged children, equipped with trash bags and gloves. The little Spanish I remembered came in handy when speaking with the girls. They also knew some very basic English. There was a lot of trash. The lake was so beautiful so it was sad to see how dirty the shore was. We all probably spent at least 45 minutes picking up trash.

When my group was done, we brought our garbage bags to a trash can and met up with my friend Jenna's group. We took off our gloves, proud of what we accomplished together. One of the girls took off her glove and threw it on the ground. Jenna and I looked at each other and were clearly thinking the same thing: "Did that really just happen? After we spent all this time picking up trash?" Another girl yelled at her friend in Spanish and she picked up her glove and threw it away. I couldn't believe it. It seemed like she didn't even realize her mistake until her friend pointed it out.

Afterwards, we met with someone involved with environmental protection in Nicaragua to debrief. We learned that while Nicaragua is a very beautiful country with so many lakes and volcanoes, it is covered in trash. Sadly, littering is ingrained in the Nicaraguan culture. Programs like The Peace Project are starting to change attitudes, but as I saw with the girl who littered, it is going to take time. We were told that eight-year-olds are now educating their grandparents to not throw trash out of bus windows. I hope that by the next generation Nicaragua will be a lot cleaner and nobody will even think of littering. 

After the debrief a few people from my group went into the lake with some of the kids. The lake water was warm and clean. Despite the language barrier, we were able to use hand signals to come up with competitions in the water. Some people in my group swung kids into the water, and we had all different types of relay races. It was so much fun and one of the highlights of my trip. It ended up being a fun day after all, and I learned an important takeaway about the Nicaraguan culture.

[wanderlisa]

Lessons from Kilimanjaro: One Year Later

I'm currently in New York City but my heart is in Tanzania. It's hard to believe that exactly a year ago, on March 8, 2016, International Women's Day, I reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, along with a group of 22 women, organized through WHOA Travel. It was hands-down one of the best experiences of my life, and also one of the hardest.

I metaphorically carry that mountain with me every day – not as a weight that pushes me down, but as a strength that lifts me up. Whenever I'm having a hard day I say to myself "I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. I can get through this."

I think about Kilimanjaro all the time. It's one of my proudest accomplishments, and when I reflect on it I smile. It was so hard. SO HARD. But I made it. And I met an incredible network of women through WHOA Travel, and we all have a special bond now from sharing this tough experience.

I would climb Kilimanjaro again in a heartbeat if I had the time and the money. I'm not sure when I'll conquer that mountain again, but I definitely will one day.

I've been inspiring a lot of my friends to want to climb Kilimanjaro. You can do it!*

(*if you're able-bodied, in decent shape, and don't have asthma)

Here's why you should climb Kilimanjaro/what I learned:

1. You're stronger than you think. You don't need to be an athlete to climb Kilimanjaro. It's not a skilled climb. If you can walk normally without getting out of breath you can climb Kilimanjaro.

2. Mental strength is more important than physical strength. I think back to the hardest moment of my climb, in the early morning hours of pitch black darkness before reaching the summit. I felt nauseous and thought I couldn't walk any farther but I was determined to make it to the summit, so I pushed through. If you want something badly enough, you'll make it happen.

3. Your health is of utmost importance. This is obvious, but you should never take your health for granted. You need to listen to your body and to the medics. If they tell you to stop, you need to listen to them.

4. Po-lay, po-lay (slowly, slowly). Remember the story of the Tortoise and the Hare? "Slow and steady wins the race." While Kilimanjaro is not a race, it is a test of endurance. Our guides must have told us this Swahili phrase at least a dozen times a day. There were some guys in other groups that were competitive and tried to walk fast but you can't do that. And not all of them made it to the summit, but my group of 22 women did. At such a high altitude, with a lack of oxygen, it's so important to slow down. There were points where we were basically walking at a tortoise's pace. When I've tried to demonstrate to friends how slowly we were walking – using all of our strength to put one leg in front of the other – people are shocked. As a fast-walking New Yorker, I hardly believe how slowly I walked. But the summit of Kilimanjaro is at 19,341 feet, and you have to take things at a slower pace. Speaking of which...

5. Unplug, slow down, connect to nature. Being off the grid for a full week was amazing. It's unfortunately so rare in this day and age and was definitely one of the best parts of the experience. We slept in tents underneath a sky so clear you could see the Milky Way. I dream of seeing stars like that again. All day long we had the opportunity to appreciate nature in all its glory – from incredible sunrises to crazy hailstorms, and everything in between. We also had the chance to appreciate our bodies and how much they do for us every single day.

6. It takes a team. Our 60+ porters and guides helped us every step of the way. Whether it was through singing, or carrying our packs, or friendly encouragement, we couldn't have done it without them. They also set up our tents, cooked meals for us, and checked our vitals every day to make sure we were all healthy enough to continue.

7. You'll make lasting friendships and share an incredible bond with so many people. When accomplishing a difficult feat with a group you automatically bond with everyone. I may not speak to everyone from my group all of the time but I think back fondly at our adventure. I'm so grateful to every single person in my group and all of the porters and guides. Everyone had a reason for being there and we accomplished something amazing together. If you have any questions about climbing Kilimanjaro, please feel free to contact me!

[wanderlisa]

It's happening. Everest Base Camp April 2018! It’s been my big bucket list goal for a long time. I have to wait 14 months but I am SO EXCITED! 

I booked it tonight through Whoa Travel, the all-women’s organization I climbed Kilimanjaro with. At least 7 people from my Kilimanjaro trip signed up for Everest. It’s going to be awesome.

Registration just opened tonight but it will probably be sold out by tomorrow.

http://www.whoatravel.com/whoa-x-everest-base-camp-2018/

[wanderlisa]

Celebrating one year

I started this blog exactly a year ago. Writing that gives me chills, and brings me back to where I was then. I was freaking out about the spontaneous decision I made to quit my job and travel to Africa, having just bought a one-way plane ticket about a week earlier. I was frantically running around the city doing last-minute errands, all while wearing my brand-new hiking boots, trying to break them in for Kilimanjaro. I basically bought out REI since I had no camping supplies. NONE. I had never even slept in a tent before, and here I was, about to do a seven-day hike to the summit of Kilimanjaro. I hadn’t even figured out where exactly I would be volunteering. Most things were up in the air, and I was definitely freaking out a lot. I was so nervous and excited that I couldn’t sleep.

Looking back now, I’m so happy everything worked out. It was perfect – even when things didn’t work out as planned. I am so so happy that I did this. It completely fills me with happiness every time I think about the past year. I’m so proud of myself. I lived my dream and I have a lifetime of memories.

I wish everyone the courage to follow their dreams. Even if it’s scary, it’s 100% worth it.

[wanderlisa]

Wanderlust

Do other people have such strong wanderlust? I've been back from Africa for over six months, and I went to Ireland and Scotland in September, yet I'm still itching to go somewhere. I'm always dreaming of my next destination. I have to often remind myself that I live in New York City, a wanderluster's dream, and that I need to take advantage of it more. I'm looking into going on a vacation this summer but it sounds so far away. I was so spoiled this year with all the traveling I did – 12 countries! By comparison, next year is going to be a tough travel year. I know, I know, #firstworldproblems. I've been reflecting on 2016 a lot lately, and I am so happy that everything worked out the way I wanted it to. I love how spontaneous I was. That I climbed Kilimanjaro. And volunteered in Ethiopia. And traveled all around East and Southern Africa. I have a lifetime of memories to look back on... and yet I want more. I didn't get to go to Kenya, Rwanda, or Uganda, and I want to so badly. And I would climb Kilimanjaro again in a heartbeat if it wasn't $3,000+. But life is good. I'm very fortunate and I need to remember that. I had the opportunity to quit my job and live my dreams, and a job I love at my favorite organization fell into my lap upon my return. I know I won't travel nearly as much in 2017, but I'm looking forward to seeing where the year takes me, even if it's exploring more in my own backyard.

[wanderlisa]

Everything is Falling into Place

I've now been back home for five weeks. I'm enjoying catching up with everyone and taking advantage of everything there is to do in NYC in the summer. I've been on "funemployment" – fun because I don't need to spend my time looking for a job. I'm thrilled to announce that starting August 1, I will be working full-time at Hazon as the marketing and communications associate. I have been involved with Hazon, a Jewish environmental organization, since 2007, when I was randomly placed as an intern through CLIP (the Collegiate Leadership Internship Program). It was a match made in heaven. Since then, I have been doing freelance graphic design for Hazon. I am on the planning team for the Ride & Retreat for the third time and will be biking on my seventh Ride this Labor Day Weekend. To say Hazon has had a huge impact on my life is an understatement. I have become an experienced cyclist and I even compost my food scraps weekly — two things I could never have imagined doing nine years ago. I am so excited to begin working for an organization I love full-time. I feel so lucky that I was able to spend three months living my dreams in Africa, and have a job fall into place when I came back. Everything seems to be working out.

[wanderlisa]

You Can't See the Stars in NYC

I've been home exactly two weeks. It hasn't been as tough transitioning to being home as I thought it would be—except for jetlag, which lasted until a couple of days ago and really sucked. It has been amazing seeing my family and friends, and my sister even threw me a surprise welcome home party! I love summer in New York, so I've been happy. In fact, I've been pretty ecstatic. The more I think about what I did, the more I can't believe it. I'm so proud of myself. I came home feeling refreshed, calm and happier than I've felt in a long time. There hasn't been much of a culture shock; I'm just noticing small things that are different here. Like, things actually work. You go to an ATM and money actually comes out! It's like magic. And New York is so...clean. I know that sounds weird, but compared to most of Africa and Thailand it's really clean and orderly. I'm enjoying biking again, and eating all of the foods I missed. The only sad thing was looking up at the sky at night and not seeing stars. When I was away, I was constantly amazed by the stars. I thought I just didn't notice the stars in NYC, but nope, there's too much light pollution. I only saw two stars the other night. I keep looking up every night, hoping I'll see more, and that I'll feel that connection to Africa. I'm keeping the memories alive in my heart instead.

[wanderlisa]

I'm Coming Home

I'm writing this on the very long flight home. Airplanes have become my favorite places to write. I still can't believe that I'm going home. I think I'm kind of in denial. It just doesn't feel real. I have been away for 102 days, the longest I have ever been away from home. While I'm so excited to see my family and friends, I'm also scared. I'm worried I've changed and everything at home will be the same and that I'll have a hard time adjusting. I'm glad there's people who live in New York that experienced Kilimanjaro and Thailand with me. I think it will be helpful to hang out with people who shared these hard, life changing experiences with me. And it certainly has been life changing. I think I will continue to reflect and figure out just how I have changed. For one thing, I feel this huge sense of accomplishment. I'm so proud of myself for chasing my dreams. I did it, I really did it! I feel so empowered. I've wanted to volunteer in Africa for years and it finally happened. I made it happen! I have zero regrets about making this decision. I can always find another job, but I can't always chase my dreams without other responsibilities getting in the way. This needed to happen now and I'm so glad it did. I'm a little worried about what will happen next. I keep pushing it off, but the time when I need to face reality is quickly approaching. I'm not really anxious, more curious. In the past I would have been terrified. Now I have more of a "bring it on" attitude. Things don't always go as planned, and I think because of all my traveling I'm better able to deal with the unexpected. I'm part scared and part excited for what will come next. Bring it on life, bring it on. I'm ready for you.

[wanderlisa]

Thailand Part II: New Culture, New Friends, and Personal Growth

The three things mentioned in the headline of this blog post basically sum up a Justifi trip. Through a Jewish social justice lens, you learn about another culture. The trips also include a lot of time for self reflection through meditation and learning sessions. I really enjoy this part of the trip, and it makes Justifi better than other group trips. After three months in Africa, having time to reflect before going home was so perfect. I realized I changed in these past three months. I'm sure I'll continue to learn and grow from this experience, but so far I feel more mature and confident. I'm more easy going and don't let things bother me as much. Of course, this may change once I'm home. My life has been pretty stress-free lately. I'm hoping that I can use the tools I learned on this trip, like meditation, once I am back home. I don't want to forget about this experience. I want to make it significant. Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen, the trip leader, is so wise. He gave us so much advice and I want to incorporate it into my life. I couldn't have been happier with this Thailand trip. I was worried it would be hard to stay present in the moment since I was going home so soon, and it was difficult to not think about that. Luckily, I was mainly distracted by how much fun I was having. Besides the volunteering, the other half of the trip was having fun touring around Thailand. We started in Bangkok, and a few of us arrived a day early. I went with one of the girls, Danielle, to a Thai boxing match. Since I do kickboxing at home it was really fun watching professionals. On the first official day of the trip, we had a tour of the city with this strange guide named Ping Pong. He wasn't very good. We visited the king's massive palace and temples, all located on one complex. It kind of felt like Disney World. We then went on this long and pointless boat ride. It was so weird but we were all laughing and having a good time. We also did a lot of shopping, had massages, and went swimming. It was disgustingly humid and felt like over 100° every day. We took an overnight bus to Chiang Mai and visited yet another temple and did some meditation. There was also a really cool night bazaar, where I once again bought way too much. Everything is so cheap, it's hard to resist! We also went to the "Grand Canyon" for swimming and cliff jumping. I was too scared to do it but many people conquered their fears that day. Then we went to Chiang Rai up in the north, where we spent the majority of the trip. One of the highlights was visiting an elephant sanctuary. We had the opportunity to ride and bathe elephants. Although I rode an elephant only 10 days earlier in South Africa, this was a completely different experience and I enjoyed it more. The jungle landscape made it feel really authentic. We rode the elephants in pairs, bare backed without a guide on the elephants with us. The trainers stood next to us, but we were in full control of the elephants. It was pretty scary yet so cool. We took the elephants to a watering hole, where we scrubbed them with brushes. They sprayed us with water from their trunks. I was having the greatest time! I've seen more elephants in the past month than in my whole life and I can't get enough. They really are incredible creatures. In Chiang Rai we also visited the Golden Triangle, the area where Thailand, Burma and Laos all meet. We unexpectedly took a boat ride to Laos. It's dumb, but I was so excited to get another passport stamp. We only spent 30 minutes in Laos, but it counts! Unfortunately it was one of the most depressing moments of the trip. We were all shocked at how poor Laos is compared to Thailand. No wonder we've heard that so many people in Southeast Asia want to move to Thailand. Laos is so close to Thailand, yet the contrast between the two couldn't have been more stark. There were kids begging on the dock, and they looked dirty and were barefoot. It reminded me of Ethiopia. Apparently these kids are all addicted to opium. You could see in their eyes that they didn't look right. The only thing to do in this part of Laos was more shopping at a small market. It was very touristy. We saw young children carrying their baby siblings, and even a monkey chained to a tree. It was so sad and made us feel dirty. I once again felt helpless. I could see what these children's lives would be like. It seemed like they would be in an endless cycle of addiction and poverty. The trip, while dealing with tough issues, was also really fun. We went on a hike to a small waterfall where we were able to go swimming. We had delicious food throughout the trip, cooked by a personal chef in Chiang Rai since there was no Chabad nearby for those who keep kosher. I didn't think I would eat well I'm Thailand but everything was delicious! We went to so many temples but they were all unique. The White Temple looked like an ice palace on the outside, but inside it had bizarre pop culture murals. There was one of the burning Twin Towers with some kind of religious symbolism. I think it must have been illustrating a battle of good and evil. There were also paintings of a minion, Harry Potter, Batman, Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean and so many more characters. It looks like they keep adding to it. Like I said, bizarre. The last night of the trip was another highlight. We released lanterns into the air, symbolizing letting go of our fears. There was almost a fire but the crisis was averted and we all laughed about it later. Seeing the lanterns with our fears go up, up, and away into the air was a beautiful moment. On the last day of the trip, some of us had extra time to explore Bangkok again before our flights. Four of us went to Chinatown and it was so fun to explore. It's so different from the rest of Bangkok. I felt like I stepped into China. And then we had a delicious dinner at an Indian restaurant. It was a cool mix of cultures and a fun way to end my first trip to Asia. People can make or break an experience, and for this trip they made it amazing. I met so many incredible people who I will definitely keep in touch with. I loved our group and despite a large age range and different religious backgrounds, we all got along so well. We had so many fun moments, like singing and dancing in the rain during a downpour, hiking through a rainforest also during the rain, and even just singing along to music during car trips. I'm so glad I went on this trip. It was the perfect way to end my nearly three and a half months of traveling.

[wanderlisa]

Thailand Part I: Trafficking

My 10-day trip to Thailand with Justifi focused on sex trafficking, essentially modern day slavery. This was not an issue I was passionate or knowledgeable about, but because it was a trip through Justifi, I knew it would be good. Justifi runs short social justice trips around the world for Jewish young adults. I went to Peru with Justifi last July and really enjoyed it. It was my first service trip, and since then I have been on a service trip to Ethiopia, and I owe a lot of credit to Justifi for these past three months in Africa. One of my friends from the Peru trip, Andrea, and the leader of the trip, Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen, were two of the people who really convinced me to quit my job and follow my dreams. So what better way to end this journey than by going on a Justifi trip? I learned a lot about trafficking on this trip, and since I strongly believe that knowledge is power, I want to share what I learned. In Bangkok we met with a woman named Bonita, who founded the House of New Beginnings, a safe house for women who have escaped the sex industry. Bonita is about 65 years old, and moved to Thailand 12 years ago from the U.S. with her husband. She was not planning on founding an organization, but she could not ignore what she was witnessing on a daily basis. Bonita is an extraordinarily fascinating woman. She spoke with our group for at least three hours, and while it was hard to hear of such atrocities, she had us at rapt attention while she told us story after story and explained the issues. Thailand is one of the top sex trafficking locations in the world; up there with Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, and Costa Rica. In Thailand, there are many poor families in the north, in cities like Chiang Rai. The parents hear there are better paying jobs in Bangkok, so they send their daughters to find work there. The women usually start off in factories, and although they are making more money than at home, they also have higher living expenses in Bangkok. In Buddhism, which most Thais practice, honoring your parents is of utmost importance. Many do this by sending money home to their families. The daughters soon realize that the way to make the most money is to enter the sex industry as prostitutes. The women don't want to become prostitutes, but they feel they have no choice. There is immense pressure to support their families. Most women don't tell their families that they are selling their bodies to make money. They feel great shame about what they need to do to survive. I'm calling them women, but really they are girls. Some are as young as 13 or 14 years old. Pattaya, Thailand has the largest sex industry in the world. During the low season there are about 30,000 women prostituting on the streets per night. Per night! There are about 50,000 each night during the high season. There are also at least 10,000 to 15,000 prostitutes out every night in Bangkok. They are split between three red light districts: Soi Cowboy, Nana Plaza, and Patpong. These numbers include women who choose to become prostitutes and those who are forced into it through sex trafficking. In reality, everyone is forced into the sex industry. I can't imagine any women actually want to be selling their bodies. As terrible as choosing a life of prostitution is, at least those women can escape it if they want to. Those who are trafficked have no choice. Most, or perhaps all, come from poor areas around the world, mainly in Southeast Asia. Many are kidnapped, and many are tricked. Men tell these girls that if they go with them they can find them jobs and they'll have better lives. They don't realize what they're getting into. Bonita told us many terrible stories, including stories of girls who are raped and then murdered. These stories made me sick to my stomach. Our whole group was wondering, who exactly are these men who hire prostitutes? What is wrong with them? A lot of men are in denial that what they are doing is wrong. They don't realize that many are being trafficked, and they certainly don't realize the desperation these girls faced that forced them into prostitution. The average male who hires a prostitute in Thailand is white, 65 years old, and from Europe, the U.S. or Australia. They have many reasons for hiring prostitutes, including bad marriages or divorces, experimentation, fun, being lonely and wanting companionship, and wanting a "girlfriend experience". They also feel that unlike at home, in Thailand there's anonymity. It's also a lot cheaper than at home. It costs about $30, which makes me even more sick. These women can barely support their families. Even though the sex industry is huge in Thailand, prostitutes are looked down upon in society. Prostitution is actually illegal in Thailand, although the law is not at all enforced. In Buddhism, there is a belief in karma and reincarnation. If you are poor it is because you were bad in your last life, so you are now getting what you deserve. This belief makes the sex industry in Thailand even worse, because most of the women do not fight to escape it. And the government does not help them either. Very few people are doing anything to stop human trafficking and the sex industry. It's a huge problem and it seems like a never ending cycle. That's why people like Bonita at the House of New Beginnings are so incredible. Bonita goes to the bars the prostitutes frequent and buys the girls a drink if they'll talk with her. Over time, she convinces some to leave the sex industry behind and come and live with her. The House of New Beginnings offers safety and education to these girls. Some have even graduated from college, thanks to Bonita. With the vastness of the issue, it may seem like Bonita is not making much difference, but it makes a huge difference to each girl she helps. Another separate but similar issue in Thailand is "lady boys". Unlike in most cultures, in Thai society parents want to give birth to girls, since they believe girls can work to support the family. It's hard to believe, but many people who give birth to boys will give them hormones to become feminine. And they can buy these hormones over the counter at a pharmacy. So crazy! I heard jokes about lady boys and I thought they were born transgendered, but sadly they are not. These lady boys are then forced into prostitution. It may be funny to hear about men who accidentally end up in hotel rooms with lady boys they hire as prostitutes, but it's really quite sad. Hearing about all of these issues was so overwhelming. After meeting with Bonita we started to notice prostitution everywhere in Bangkok. We drove past bars and saw middle-aged white men with beer bellies sitting with young Thai women. We even met some men and when we asked them what they were doing in Thailand they said they moved there for retirement and it's a fun place to live. It was so disgusting hearing all of this and it felt like there was nothing we could do. As one person in my group brilliantly said, it's all about supply and demand. If more men were educated about the sex industry in Thailand, maybe they would stop hiring prostitutes. It seems like that's really the only way to end it. We also visited an organization in Chiang Rai doing work around trafficking prevention, called the Tom Karen Center. Tom Karen was an incredible man who unfortunately passed away six months ago. He started an afterschool center to educate children from his village at risk of entering prostitution and being trafficked. We met Tom's wife and daughter Minnie. They were both very sweet. The first hands-on volunteering we did was at schools for at-risk kids in Chiang Rai, including the school Tom Karen attended as a boy. We split up into groups and each came up with a simple lesson plan for elementary school-aged children. The goal was to teach them a little English and for them to have fun with us. We taught lessons about colors, animals and verbs. My group did a lesson about emotions. We taught the children in our classroom the words "happy," "sad," "angry," "sleepy," and "funny" through songs and dancing. The kids had a blast and we did too! It was one of the highlights of the trip for me. These kids were so adorable and have so much potential. I really hope they all stay in school. I don't want these girls to be forced into the sex industry. They are so smart and deserve so much more from life. As an American, it's so hard for me to see so many children who will never have the opportunities I have. I can follow my dreams, and I have been blessed with that opportunity these past three months. It feels so unfair that so many people need to make such hard decisions in their lives, like going into prostitution to support their families. As cliche as it sounds, it makes me feel so grateful for what I have, but it also pains me so. I feel helpless when it comes to these huge issues. I hope that by educating others about what I learned in Thailand it makes even the smallest difference. Maybe this blogpost will have even one guy change his mind about hiring a prostitute in Thailand. I can only hope.

[wanderlisa]

Farewell, Africa!

I am writing this on the airplane as I head to Bangkok, Thailand—my first time going to Southeast Asia! It's hard to believe my three months in Africa have come to an end. While it wasn't always easy, I'm sure going to miss this beautiful, chaotic continent. I will certainly be back one day, hopefully soon. There's a lot more of Africa I want to explore. And I miss Cape Town already. The past five weeks have been some of the best of my life! I had a really tough time in Ethiopia and felt homesick, so it was a breath of fresh air to travel around Africa and feel free. I have never felt so free and alive in my life. I could go anywhere I wanted and had no responsibilities. Every day was a new adventure. When traveling I'm usually a planner, but for this trip I just let it go and decided what to do at the spur of the moment. If you are not limited on time, it's a fantastic way to travel. I'm so glad traveling with my friend Eliora worked out. I probably wouldn't have gone to Botswana on my own. I can't believe we went to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa in such a short period of time. We saw so much and had so many amazing adventures. I know I will look back at this time with fond memories. I am extremely grateful that I took advantage of this opportunity to travel and volunteer in Africa. I lived my dream. How many times in life can you say that? I feel truly blessed. It's hard to write about what I'm feeling right now because I'm feeling a mix of emotions. There were many points during this journey where I missed my family and friends and New York and felt ready to go home. But as the time came to leave South Africa I didn't want to go. I could seriously live in Cape Town one day. Maybe I'll retire there many years from now. The only other time I felt such an attachment to a place I was visiting was in Italy. Just like with people, you can develop a special attachment to a place, making it so hard to leave. I have zero regrets about quitting my job to travel. It was one of the best decisions I ever made—and definitely one of the most spontaneous! I agonized over it since I was making such a hasty decision, but from the beginning I knew in my heart it was right. I just needed to convince my brain. I'm so grateful for my friends who gave me the little nudge I needed to do this. You were all right, it was so worth it! The reason I wanted to come back to Africa a mere five months after my first trip to the continent was because I had such a positive experience during my ten days in Ethiopia. It's ironic that the Ethiopia portion was my least favorite part of this trip. Unfortunately I don't feel as much affection towards Ethiopia as I did the first time, and that upsets me. However, even though I didn't have the most positive volunteer experience, I'm still glad I did it. It was the most challenging part of this entire journey—yes, even more challenging than Kilimanjaro—and probably the part I will grow the most from. I'm still reflecting on what I learned about myself in Ethiopia. Challenging situations cause us to grow, and for that I'm grateful for this challenge. I learned that I do not thrive without a support network. This was the first time in many years that I felt I could not relate to the people around me. I am usually very good in group situations so that was very hard for me. I think the age different and the cultural differences, plus the language barrier, all made me feel like an outsider. I was definitely out of my comfort zone, being in a difficult environment with very few people I felt I could really connect with. I'm trying very hard to not feel negative towards my experience in Ethiopia. It is no longer my favorite African country, but I will always feel affection towards Ethiopia. I still love the culture and am so glad I had the opportunity to live in Ethiopia and really get a sense of the country. I imagine I will continue to reflect on this experience and to learn from it. I still can't believe everything I've done in the past three months. I summited Mount Kilimanjaro! That really happened, even though it feels so long ago. That was one of the absolute best experiences of my life. And I loved traveling around Zanzibar, Zambia, Zimbabwe (so many z's!), Botswana, Namibia (only for two hours but it counts!) and South Africa. I have seen so much of Africa in the past three months. I went on safaris and saw animals in their natural habitats. I formed new friendships and made many memories. It's weird that while the Africa portion of my trip is done, I now have Thailand to look forward to. I'm actually quite nervous about it. Even though Africa can be chaotic it's a type of chaos I'm now used to. Southeast Asia is a whole different ball game. I'm trying to be positive, but I don't think I'll like it very much. I hate crowds, and Bangkok is going to be extremely crowded. While people can be pushy when trying to sell stuff in Africa, none of the places I visited were very crowded. It was also low season, so there were very few tourists. Part of me is glad that I'm not going home straight after Africa. I think that would be very hard and I would miss Africa a lot. Going to Thailand gives me a little bit of a buffer and more time to reflect on Africa before heading home and back to real life. We will be doing some meditation in Thailand which I think will help me reflect on this journey. I am sure I will continue to reflect on this experience and learn from it for many months to come, and will have a lot more to write.

[wanderlisa]

The Garden Route

If you travel to Cape Town, you must do the Garden Route. This is a tour of the towns east of Cape Town, to Port Elizabeth. You can self-drive and stop at the many attractions along the way, or do an organized tour. Eliora and I most definitely were not going to drive on the left side of the road, so we did a four-day tour through a company called Cape to Addo. The tour group was small; only eight people, ranging in age from 19 to 30. I actually knew half the people on the tour since we met one of the girls, Naomi, at our hostel a few days before. Also, my friend Ben who I know from New York happened to be in Cape Town at the same time and decided to do the tour too. The Garden Route is very scenic, so while there are many hours of driving, I didn't mind it so much. Plus our group was really fun so I was laughing a lot. Our first stop was a zoo-type place that I wasn't so crazy about. After going on safaris, seeing animals in captivity is not very appealing. However, I had the opportunity to pet cheetahs and that was really cool. You definitely can't pet cheetahs out in the wild! Afterwards we visited very old caves and Eliora, Naomi, Ben and I signed up for the more adventurous tour. We crawled through some very narrow passages. At one point I erupted into a fit of giggles while trying to crawl like an inchworm through a tight spot and earned the nickname "Giggles" for the rest of the trip. The caves were so much fun to explore, not to mention so stunning. That was one of the highlights of the Garden Route for me. While driving, we passed by an ostrich farm along the side of the road. I have never seen so many ostriches in my life! They are such funny creatures, with large bodies and tiny heads. Their expressions make them look constantly angry. Ostriches are very dumb creatures; their brains are half the size of their eyes! They like to eat sticks so we threw some at them but they had trouble finding them. The ostrich farm was an unexpected stop and so fun! That night we slept at a cute house owned by the tour company in Sedgefield. It reminded me of a house I rented with my friends at Lake George, NY last July 4th but that was so much more expensive. And South Africa is way better than Lake George! The next morning we went to an elephant sanctuary where we could feed and ride elephants. I was very hesitant to ride an elephant because I have heard many elephants are mistreated. I spoke to one of the trainers and he reassured me that these elephants are treated very well. Mistreatment of elephants mainly happens in Asia. At this sanctuary if an elephant does not want to be ridden it will not be forced to. The elephants are trained with positive reinforcement, using food. There are five elephants and they have been living there for 16 years. If any of them seem ready to be released back into the wild at some point, the will be allowed to. After hearing that whole explanation I felt comfortable riding an elephant. It was a really great experience and I'm glad I did it, but I'm also glad that I asked questions first. I'm going to do something similar in Thailand but we'll be bathing elephants there so it's a little different. The next stop was the highest bungee jump in the world. I was definitely not going to do that! Someone would need to pay me at least a million dollars for me to bungee jump. It sounds so awful to me, diving headfirst, your legs snapping, then bouncing up and down many times while all the blood rushes to your head. More than half of my group did the bungee jump, and I was quite content watching them on the TVs in the cafe with my feet safely on the ground. That night we stayed at a hostel on the beach in Jeffrey's Bay, one of the best surfing destinations in the world! We didn't surf but I could see the appeal. The waves looked perfect for surfing and the beach was beautiful. It was a little too cold for the beach since technically it is approaching winter in South Africa, although I'd take this winter over New York winters. I can imagine Jeffrey's Bay being an awesome beach town in the summer. I'll have to go back one day. We had a fun night at the hostel hanging out with the other people staying there. We woke up early the next morning for a safari. It was raining so we did a safari in our van instead of in an open-air vehicle. Our guide, who was also our driver for the whole Garden Route, said as we started the safari that we probably wouldn't see any animals for a while, until we were much deeper in the park... And five seconds later we saw a buffalo! The whole safari kind of went like that. We saw animal after animal. We saw many zebras and elephants, kudus, monkeys, warthogs, and many more animals. No giraffes and unfortunately no lions. I did not get to see any lions on safari in Africa but it's okay, this safari was the best one ever. Even our guide said he's never seen so many animals on one safari! We were laughing the whole time and joking that it was the worst safari ever. We got extremely lucky. The most eventful thing that happened was at one point we drove a little too close to an elephant. Our guide's window was open and one guy asked if he could open the other window to get a better picture. We all screamed "no!" Our guide had a look of fear on his face and was telling us to be quiet. The elephant was staring at us, especially our guide. The elephant stuck one of his tusks through the open window and stood like that for what felt like a few minutes but may have only been 30 seconds. We were all dead silent, holding our breath. The elephant backed away, and we all exhaled. I thought the elephant was going to knock our van over or kill our guide. It was extremely scary and reminded me of Jurassic Park. Safaris are fun but you're in nature among wild animals and anything can happen. Luckily we were okay and it made for a good story afterwards. The Garden Route and particularly the safari were full of inside jokes. We made a few more stops along the Garden Route on the way back to Cape Town but nothing was as adventurous as the safari. I'm so glad I went on the Garden Route. It was one of the most fun experiences I had in Africa.