Best Travel Advice Received | 30 Days of Indie Travel, Day 30

In responding to the best advice received while traveling, my mind went immediately to Elizabeth Gilbert's world-famous book, Eat, Pray, Love. Although I was not traveling at the time I read it, it satisfied my wanderlust and was a good long, juicy story. Through the art of story-telling from the female perspective, she explored basic, life-changing lessons, ones that I could apply to myself even when my marriage was at a high point, I still wanted to eat, pray and love a lot more. What I love most about Elizabeth's "advice" was that it inspired me to get up and do my best with who I am and with what I have each day. To be a pioneer of continuing on.

My second best travel advice comes from another author, Tim Ferriss, and he says: “Do what excites you.” Sometimes it is helpful to write things down that make me happy and that are good life policies. After a while I have a pretty clear picture of who I am, flaws and all, and what fulfills me. Having a travel wish list is helpful as well.

I'll end this post with these "pieces" of my travels to date (in and around the Stockholm area). This also wraps up the Indie 30 Days of Travel project. But it is never goodbye ;-)

Happy trails xoxo, Sharon

I Protest Perfection | 30 Days of Indie Travel, Day 26

In response to the Indie 30 Day Travel Project, Day 26 The Perfect Trip, I would like to protest perfection!

Perfect is a heavy word to me, and there really is no perfection (unless you are counting the moment we are in right now); there is only what works for each of us on a very personal level over time. One cannot travel like I do or do the work I did previously, be on this amazing home exchange for 3 months, and be perfect. So do I have the need or desire to fantasize what the perfect trip would be like, smiling at an image that is free of flaws and mishaps, never a miscommunication, no getting lost or back tracking, always able to buy something? No, I really don't.

Forgive me Indie Travel / Bootsnall folks. I really do enjoy being a part of this exercise and community, but in the end perfection crushes our soul, kills adventure, causes us to skirt our individually, and makes us think we are in control. I surrender to life in the moment I am living right now, which is unpredictable and splendidly as imperfect as it may be. I no longer want to be perfect at shielding my vulnerability, and I don't even know what that looks like and I don't have to have it all so figured out. With love & respect, Sharon

30 Days of Indie Travel | What European City do I Most Want to Visit, Day 16

Drikke vin means drink wine in Danish, and this is exactly what I was doing last night which lead me to an affirmative post for Day 16. Last night's terroir-driven Mediterranean wine/olive oil/sea salt tasting event here in Charlottenlund, provided my hands down answer of Sicily! (Technically not a city, but a region/province of Italy.)

I want to meet the people and see what they are really like. While they make know how to make a meal with passion, I also want to make them a meal with equal fervor. Share some Mt Etna wines. Kick a football. Listen to their stories. Or just sit and be quiet offering friendship as best I can, hoping they know how much I appreciate giving and sharing life's many great passions. I know it will just be beautiful even if I have to wait until after 10pm to get Pasta alla Norma, then so be it.

Here is a link to an enticing travel webpage: Sicily Vacations. Love, Sharon

30 Days of Indie Travel | Learning Languages, Day 13

If you could wake up tomorrow knowing any one language (one you don’t already know), what would it be and why?

I am hopelessly ungifted with languages. No natural talent whatsoever. In high school I wasn't a fan of speaking outloud in class and grateful (at the time) a foreign language was not a requirement to graduate. So like most American children, I was not exposed to many languages other than just English. I barely learned French in college. Un poquito Spanish has made its way into my vocabulary, but not really irredeemably so; because I lived in Tucson, Arizona for many years and traveled extensively in Mexico/Baja, the sounds and words started drifting in by proximity.

To answer the question, I wish I could wake up knowing Spanish, as I already have a jump start on it and also, it's the second most-spoken language of the world. Although Mandarin actually is population wise, with Spanish second and English third.

I like the idea of starting small today, with learning to toast life (or to send random bubbles of love) in as many different languages as possible. The clinking of glasses that cements friendships and celebrates new ones. I'm in Denmark today, therefore Skål! (pronounced Skoal in Denmark and Skawl in Sweden) Love, Sharon

30 Days of Indie Travel | Strange Food, Day 10!

In doing a little research for Day 10 of "strange food," I read that one of the strangest dishes in the world I will find in Sweden (my next home exchange destination). It is called surstomming which is fermented Baltic herring and can be found on supermarket shelves all over the country. Oh boy! I wonder if I've overlooked this in Ikea next to the frozen meatballs. Ok, I'm joking, however I am known for liking unusual foods. For example, I'm a fan of antelope, tuna tartare, kimchi, black fermented garlic and took a small nibble of a fried grasshopper in Thailand, which is probably the most strange.

Back to the herring research: it is caught in spring when it is just about to spawn and fermented in barrels for one to two months before it's tinned where the fermentation continues for several months. The cans often bulge during shipping and storage because of the continued fermentation process. Certain airlines have in fact banned these cans from being taken on flights, as they consider the pressurized cans to be potentially dangerous, like fireworks and explosives. A canned good exposing?! And can you imagine the smell in the baggage claim? It’s usually eaten with a type of flat crispy bread and boiled potatoes. Sometimes people drink milk with it, but beer and water are often used to guzzle it down. Looking forward to trying it.

A list of what I want to try:
Fried tarantula
Casu Marzu
Escamole
Durian
Scorpion on a stick
Some kind of eyeball (think Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - eyeball soup, anyone?)
And more kinds of bugs

I know I might be a little crazy. I'm alright with that. ;) What about you? What is the strangest food you've eaten? Where were you? Do tell! Love, Sharon

30 Days of Indie Travel | My Travel Style, Day 3

My travel style is summed up pretty well in Alessandra's Gypsy Girls Guide, that I've been following since around 2009. I like to think my style is aware, bohemian, creative, fearless, nomadic, sometimes poetic and whimsical all wrapped up into one. All these flowery adjectives I'm at the liberty of taking, apply to a wide range of travel modes I find myself in: from staying up all night to fly across time zones, to sparse camping, to adrenaline rush stuff, to seeking out the best delectable foods, to helping and loving those around me that need it. I could be walking, out at sea or using a motorized means; it doesn't matter to me.

Currently, I am on a home exchange in Denmark. I'm two weeks in so far. Everyday I start small and get creative with what's right outside my door. This has included reusing things, recycling, re-arranging (my thoughts, plans, ideas), and foraging. I adore foot paths that already exist here as short cuts to the beach and forest, instead of walking all over the place. I think it's inherent in the human soul to be nomadic, and some of us have lost that! I try and reflect what I feel inside and simply open my eyes and heart to the place I'm in. This style is not about puffing up anything into a romantic view. Certainly situations will challenge me and keep me on the ground. My style is also about asking other people for help, such as confirming I'm on the right platform to catch the S-train. Love, Sharon