Ola's World

International Woman's Day - share your life changing stories.

  Today, International Woman's Day, Diverse Traveller is asking women travellers the world over to share their stories of travel. Stories that tell us how travel has either changed your life in some way, no matter how small, or how you have improved / changed the lives of others.

Whether you have helped other women though volunteering, making donations, hosting a traveller, and so on; or have set-up a company or service as a result of a travel experience - share your experience with our readers.

If you are interested, please send an email to Ola - editor@diversetraveller.com. Tell me a little about yourself and why you feel you should be interviewed. Please include a contact phone number (with the best day and time to call).

Once we have reviewed all the emails, potential interviewees will be sent five questions to complete and return (plus we request a suitable time to interview you). We will then call to discuss the answers by phone (even if you live outside the UK).

Interested? Please leave a message on 020 7060 2295 (with the above information) or send me an email (editor@diversetraveller.com). For the moment there is no end date.

Please pass this on to other women. Thanks and I can't wait to read your stories. You can also post your stories below.

Unleashing my creativity - two

As promised in my last post Unleashing my creativity - one, here is a brief overview, plus a few videos showing you more of the games and activities that made up the How to run a workshop class.

Warm Ups – warm the body up and relax students

Body stretch

Standing tall and feet firmly but comfortably planted on the floor, our bodies loose releasing tension, we were instructed by Petina to lift our left hand and move to left, then right, eight times. Next the same for our right hand, making sure not to move our arms. Then move both elbows, shoulders, and so on, head last, focusing on bringing our bodies gently into the workshop.

Wax Work stretch

Another body stretch. We pretended we were a wax work celebrity in Madame Tussuad's. We posed holding for a few seconds. Then with slow energy and focus we stretched out of our pose getting as tall as we could. Once tall, we were told we were melting, so we had to melt slowly, focusing on our body parts, energy and position; until we melted to the floor and got as small as we could. We stayed curled up on the floor for a few minutes, then like seeds we slowly and exaggerated grew into a tall tree. If you do Yoga or Pilates you will be familiar with these exercises.

Breathing 

Now standing tall, we breathed deeply while raising our arms in a large gesture, then breathing out we delicately (like a ballerina) let our arms float down to our sides. We did this three time.

Back to the floor, relaxed, we lay on our backs and closed our eyes. Petina told us to think of ourselves as a slice of toast with warm butter flowing through us. In a gentle voice she told us that the butter was changing colour, we were instructed to see and feel the colours, yellow, burnt orange, blood red, sky blue, grass green, white, and back to green, blue until finally yellow. We took several deep breathes, and without thinking (we told told not to think) emitted a sound, then amplified the same sound three times.We ended this exercise by shaking our body loose / out and safely sat up.

Blowing up a balloon

We had to pretend to blow up a balloon, we blew until we can’t blow any more, then we released the balloon and moved around the room as if we were the balloon losing air.

Focus and Concentration – aid and develop visualisation, imagination, storytelling and expression skills.

Zip Zap Boing or Zip Zap Zop

I’ll let the video explain this as it took some of us a little while to get it. Once we did we had lots of fun.

Mixing things up

We used the first verse of Twinkle Twinkle little star and taught those who didn’t know it … “Twinkle Twinkle  how I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle twinkle little star how I wonder what you are.” Split into smaller groups, we were instructed to deliver the lines from the nursery rhyme in two different genres, that were then acted in front of the others.  

My group chose X factor, two contestants and two judges. Then those who weren’t in the X Factor sketch acted out an Eastenders sketch were I was a combination of Peggy and Bianca delivering my lines to a crying male character in an exaggerated cockney accent. Great fun!. Others chose the opera, gospel choir,

Action around around the circle

Group in a circle, one person goes in to the centre, performs an action e.g jumping, everyone copies the action, then another goes in to the circle and performs another action, and so on until every one has been in the centre.

Sound around the circle or Machines

This activity really took us outside of our comfort zone, each of us had to produce a different energetic sound and rhythm that followed the sound and rhythm made by the person before. This activity caused a stir, some said they were not rhythmic, but Petina told them not to worry, “just go with the flow”. By the end, we were surprised that we had managed to create a giant beat box of 12 different sounds and rhythms that managed to go well together – who would have thought. 

Shapes

The moderator calls a shape, venue, scene and the group as a whole must make that shape as quickly as possible without speaking e.g circle, triangle, square, church, hospital

Story Circle

This was my favourite activity. We sat on the floor again this time in a circle, Petina gave us each a colour and an object, I had silver and a handbag. Each person has to include their object and colour into their story, but didn’t have to remember or include the colour and objects from the previous person. I offered to start:

I really like my friend Amanda, but she does take liberties. For example she is due to marry Brian but she is always cheating on him and using me as her alibi. This time i have had enough so when Brian asked if she was me with me I said no. When she found out she was mad, “You call yourself my friend, you’re like Judas you’d sell me out for 30 pieces of silver.” “Like Judas, you don’t even know what you are talking about”, I said. We haven’t spoken since then, but I’m not going to let that get me down, I’m off to Oxford street to get a new handbag. And so it continued, into a very funny story until it ended using the theme and characters I had kicked off.

Pair Work – great for stimulating creativity and building characters

Freeze Tag

Two people act out a scene and location suggested by a member of the group. After a few minutes, the moderator yells freeze, the acts act frozen. Then going around the circle of the seated group, one person taps one of the actors on the shoulder and takes the exact position of the actor. The actor that has been tapped leaves and rejoins the group. Then the other actors enact a new scene. continues until everyone has had a chance to act.

Theme argument

Working in pairs, someone we hadn’t worked with, we used the theme of love. Our pair could be anyone, mother and daughter, lovers, unrequited love etc. My pair was mother and stroppy teenage daughter, I was the loving but frustrated mum.

Subtext - paying attention to what is not being said

For this improvisation exercise, in pairs one person A and the other B, we used the following text:

A: Good morning!

B: Is it?

A: Scrambled eggs?

B: What a sickening thought

A: Only asked!

B: Well don’t!

Each pair was given 15 minutes to devise a scene and practise making sure to focus on communicating what is not being said. Then each pair acted their scene for the others and received positive feedback. The scene from my paring was as follows:

Two friends were camping in the wilderness, one, A, was  camping ready, the right clothes and attitude, while B was not. A woke early, put on her warm clothes, unzipped her tent and unzipped the tent of her friend, saying “Good morning”. B, who had spent the night shivering as she bought the wrong clothes, grumbled back “Is it?” A got twigs together for a camp fire and started breakfast, “Scrambled eggs?” B getting dressed in her tight top and skirt and high heels replied, “What a sickening thought”. Both friends are now around the  camp fire, A: “Only asked,” B: “Well don’t”.

Park bench

Two chairs were placed side by side mimicking a park bench. Two enacted a scene for a few minutes e.g one person walking their do the other a drunk. Then someone else entered the park and changed the scene, while one of the initial actors gave an excuse and left the park  and on and on. Petina gave us all a colour, when one of us entered the ‘park’ we had to act in a personality inspired by the colour given e.g pink very girly / shallow and grey, sad and dull.

The end

After hours of acting and improvising, the last half and hour was spent discussing  “what next!” We talked about getting work as a workshop leader and obtaining qualifications to teach the activities we had learnt today. Petina told us there weren’t any specific qualifications, just drama related qualifications e.g from The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art - UK's largest statutory speech and drama awarding body.

This information sadden me as I do not plan to take a whole load of acting qualifications so I can provide creative workshops. Petina told us to take what we had learnt and try it out learning from experience, perhaps even linking up with others for credibility.

At 5.30pm, the class was over. Despite my initial reservations about leaving my warm flat early Sunday morning to battle the Winter wind and rain, I was surprised at how much I had enjoyed the day. At no time, during the class did I feel self-conscious, after all  everyone had participated without fear and with great spirit and energy. I wish the course was longer, I would happily attend every wintry Sunday, this was the most enjoyable Sunday I have had in ages.

So if you are like the old me, a person who to paraphrase The Carpenters, “…rainy days and Sundays always get you down”, I urge you to do something different with your Sundays from now on. Yes, like attending the next running a workshop at City lit.

Previous post: Unleashing my creativity - one

Unleashing my creativity - one

The text message I sent back to a friend, who had asked what I was up to today, Sunday, read …

“Hiya, Hve just been a melted wax work now singing twinkle twinkle little start as a scene from Eastenders…”

Rainy days and Sundays

Once again I wondered why I have started to punish myself on Sundays. It used to be I spent Sundays in bed reading a trashy novel, dunking Rich Tea biscuits in to a large mug of strong sweet tea, while waiting for the Eastenders omnibus.

But not last Sunday, instead I found myself clothes in layers, gripping my umbrella against the determined wind, and navigating weekend tube works on my way to a class. Yes a class! I had actually paid not to have a day of rest, but to spend a day (10.30 to 17.30) learning How to run a Workshop.

This year I have been thinking of cost and time-effective ways to grow Diverse Traveller and bring the concept to more women. I like the idea of a workshop, but I am still playing around with content ideas. However, lack of a concrete idea was not going to stop me from learning how to make whatever workshop I decided on, one that would be engaging and full of creative energy.

Will I be able to perform?

I knew I didn’t want to take a long course, so I searched various college websites and found the one day course, How to run a Workshop, at City Lit, near Holborn, London. The course is run by director, actress, singer and lecturer Petina Hapgood (picture above) providing students with an introduction to running a theatre workshop at a professional level. We would look at structuring workshops, using games, exercises and improvisation in variety of situations.

Now I am no actress, the last time I performed in a play I was eight (Greensleeves), I was attending this class because I wanted to learn some creative techniques to ould help me towards my lofty workshop ambitions.

Arriving at room 103 I became concerned, this was an exercise room complete with wall length mirror. While Petina placed papers on each chair, I expressed my concerns. She told me not to worry as over the years people from all backgrounds had attended, fully participated and taken away things to apply to their own work area. Reassured I waited for the others.

Feel the fear and improvise anyway

We were 12 in total, half of us not from the world of theatre or drama. There were four actresses, a director of plays, a puppeteer from Brazil, a life coach, a car sales manager, a secondary school counsellor, a clown, a Masters student. Following introductions I leaned we were all here with the same objective, i.e. how to structure our workshops and engage attendees.

I already knew this was not going to be a typical class, the room gave that away, but I didn’t realise how much improvisation we would be doing (nearly all of the class). Our first activities, ice breakers, were a number of games to help us remember names and to help us loosen up. This was not the place for fear of ridicule, we were urged to enjoy the day by throwing as much of ourselves into the day, go with the flow and not over think what we were doing.  And that is what we all did. 

Read on for a bri overview of a number of games and activities we did. In some cases I've added some videos (to give you a better idea of the activity), unfortunately not mine, if I had known I would have had such fun I would have taken photos. 

1. Ice Breakers - getting to know each other and bringing energy to the group

Name and throw

We all stood in a circle. Using a soft ball, Petina started by saying “My name is Petina.” then establishing eye content with someone e.g me, she three the ball to me. I caught the ball, then said, “Thank you Petina”. I then said, “My name is Ola”, eye contact with someone else in the circle and threw the ball. This went on until everyone had introduced themselves.

First name and adjective action

Still in a circle, a person said their name and perform an adjective that begins with the first letter of their first name and describes their personality or something about themselves. E.g.  “My name is Ola and I am open” (raised my arms, together, above my head then exaggerated opening them). Everyone repeats my name and action. Then the next person said their name and performed an exaggerated action that we all repeated, and so on until everyone had introduced themselves in the same way.

Full name and adjective actions 

Still in a circle, a person said their first name, then demonstrated an exaggerated adjective action (as above) that begins with the first letter of their first name and the first letter of their surname, i.e “My name is Ola, I am open and flapping.” Everyone then repeats my name and actions; again this was continued until everyone had introduced themselves.

Positive Moves

Still in a circle, the first person picked someone by name and asked that person to stand beside them (i.e first person) because of something positive about the chosen person. E.g. “Yasmin come and stand next to me because I like your bracelets.” To fill the gap in the circle, a person near the gap, selected another person from the circle to stand beside them, using the person’s name and a positive attribute. Continued until everyone had moved.

Cinderella

This was suggested by Lorraine, one of the actresses, as something she using in workshops based on theatre shows, in this case Cinderella. We used a scarf shaped into a baby that was  cradled in our arms. The first person who had the ‘baby’ said, “My name is Ola and I am the bad fairy, I bestow on Cinderella shallowness.” The prop was then passed to the next person who carefully received it and said their name, whether they were the good or bad fairy / wizard and the gift they bestow. Continued until everyone had a go.

For more of the games and activities, including "Twinkle Twinkle little star", check out Unleashing my creativity - two

Running a workshop is run by City Lit website: http://www.citylit.ac.uk

One to watch: Zimbabwe's Forgotten Children

Channel hopping on Monday night, I came across Zimbabwe's Forgotten Children on BBC Four. All I will say is watch it on iplayer and be prepared to well, watch it and see.

About the programme:

Shot entirely undercover over the course of nine months, a beautiful and moving documentary which tells the stories of three children growing up in today's Zimbabwe.

12-year-old Grace rummages through rubbish dumps in Harare to find bones to sell for school fees; nine-year-old Esther has to care for her baby sister and her mother who is dying of HIV/AIDS; and 13-year-old Obert pans for gold to make enough money to buy food for himself and his gran, while dreaming of somehow getting the education he craves.

From BAFTA-winning director Jezza Neumann and BAFTA-winning producer, Xoliswa Sithole, a powerful tale unfolds of the gaping chasm between what these children hope for and what their country can currently provide.

Once you have watched it share your thoughts.

Diverse Traveller - meet, share and raffle!

Meet

Last night, at 6.45pm, seven Diverse Travellers braved the rain and joined me at the 5th floor bar and food in Waterstone's, Piccadilly.

The evening got off to a faulty start as I was delayed, due to the rain effect on the Bakerloo line, and we were seated in the wrong place.

I arrived on the 5th floor at the same time as our guest Alyssa, assistant producer at Outline Productions, only to find my group, Ellie, Maureen, Clare, Rachel and Kirsten seated in the very noisy restaurant, getting to know each by shouting out their introductions. 

While Alyssa explained her project, she is looking for quick soundbite vox-pops of experiences people may have had while eating out abroad. I found the manager and, politely but firmly, asked why we were not seated in the quieter 'reading area' I had booked two weeks ago. Unfortunately the 'reading area' was full with other groups and people enjoying their after work drinks. Fortunately the manger couldn't say no to my brimming doe eyes, and we were showed to the closed off and secluded area of the Lecture Room. Ironically, the area we were given, a large half circle, comfy settee covered in black and grey velvet and a very large round wooden table, was surrounded by shelves of travel books. Perfect!

Share

Now happily secluded and relaxed, over drinks - the non-alcoholic pear and peach fizz cocktail is a must - we shared tales of travels to places worldwide such as Brazil, India, Canada and Thailand, and shared packing tips - Ellie's "Always take string," was my favourite.

As well as getting to know each other and sharing travel tales, the group discussed  content they would like to see on the Diverse Traveller website. The idea of workshops was very well received, ideas put forward included:

1. Packing tips for summer and winter travel,
2. Constructive and comfortable travel writing group, and
3. Photography - the idea of something along the lines of the popular Guardian newspaper's camera club and the resultant photos shared on the Diverse Traveller group page on Flickr].

Ellie asked me what happened to the idea I had of recording the Diverse Traveller stories for audio downloads. I explained I had postponed this idea while I searched  for a volunteer to help edit the recordings. Rachel mentioned she might know someone, fingers crossed.

Raffle

I'd make a lousy bingo caller, as I messed up the raffle, or as Ellie said humorously, "It's good to know you are not good at everything." Goodness knows what I did with the raffle tickets as nobody had the first three numbers I called out. In the end I ditched the tickets and randomly called out numbers from one to ten, which worked. Rachel won a Diverse Traveller bag, something she'd wanted for a while, both Dawn and Maureen won a Diverse Traveller fridge magnet each. 

Farewell

Two hours and much travel talk later it was time to say goodbye. After years of maintaining an online relationship with many Diverse Travellers, I consider myself fortunate to be able to finally meet some of the women who have been with Diverse Traveller from the start, as well as meeting two who have recently started their Diverse Traveller journey. It was also time to say goodbye to Clare, who looks after the Diverse Traveller facebook pages. Clare is off to Thailand for a year, teaching and travelling, on Wednesday.

Sadly, I forgot to take photos, but who needs pictures as I have images of the evening playing on a loop, like an enjoyable movie, in my mind.

I thank Ellie, Maureen, Clare, Rachel, Dawn and Kirsten (and Nadine, who tried to join us but was told by the 5th Floor staff we were not there) for joining me last night in spite of the heavy rain and late start. 

Diverse Traveller updates

To find out the details of our future meetings and events and to receive Diverse Traveller updates, join us in the following ways:

1) subscribe to the Diverse Traveller newsletter

2) join as an author

3) contribute to the Diverse Traveller Photography group on Flickr

4) Join us on Facebook

5) join us on Meetup

6) subscribe to this blog

7) follow Diverse Traveller on Twitter

If you have any ideas for workshops inc. venues, plus any events you want to bring to the attention of women travellers (doesn't have to be women-only events), please share with us.

Currently reading: Give me shelter edited by Tony Bradman

I read a wide, Diverse, range of travel-related books including many about life for people new to Britain, either as travellers, expats, immigrants or refugees.

At the moment I am reading a little book, 220 pages, ... "a collection of stories about children from all over the world" who have had to leave their homes, and many their families to remain safe.

The stories are written by refugees and the people who work with them. Some are fact others fiction based on facts.

Most of the stories conjure up harrowing images of mothers giving up their children to people smugglers in the hope their child/ren will have a better life.

Other stories make me smile as on reading I hear a child determined to fit in and survive, in our sometimes hostile country, speaking accented English coloured by a blend of their mother tongue and the region they now live in. 

The hope of Tony Bradman, the book's editor, to all who read this book is ...

" help us understand what it means to be an asylum-seeker - to be forced to leave your home and seek the comfort of strangers."

If you are interested in finding out how to help refugees make a home in the UK, visit the Refugee Council website.

Are you breeching "Jetiquette"?

As the size of our check-in luggage decreases, so it seems do our travel manners. I am not alone in observing that some travellers check-in their manners whilst checking-in their luggage.

I have sat behind a child who used the back of my seat as a football in a middle of a flight to Baltimore, a male passenger who fought me for my arm rest most of a flight to Chicago, and way too many inconsiderate travellers who insists on lowering their seat until they are practically sitting in my lap. Each time, I abandoned my British reserve and, firmly but politely complained - successfully.

Some of you may cry, if you don't want to be inconvenienced, pay the extra and fly business or first class. To them I say, do not be decieved by my meek manner; sit next to me and misbehave, be prepared for my 'bad, mad black woman' display.

***

Not that it's any comfort, but I believe, most of the time, my fellow travellers are unaware how annoying they can be. 

Thankfully, help is at hand, from the all knowing and seeing travel guru - The Sky Steward - Gailen David. Gailen has produced a funny, handy "Jetiquette" guide (click on image to view enlarged pdf version) to remind us to be considerate of others.

As I climb down from my soapbox, I implore you to print this guide and take it with you on each journey. Once seated, place it in front of you to remind yourself at all times you are not at home. 

Otherwise ... you have been warned!

For more "Jetiquette" tips listen to The Sky Steward show Jetiquette Faux Pas of 2009 or visit The Sky Steward website

In a reflective frame of mind

Over the last month and the weeks of this, I have been:

• working on a new business plan for Diverse Traveller,
• updating the Diverse Traveller website,
• writing posts for this blog and other websites,
• searching and researching story ideas,
• managing volunteers, and... well you get the idea.

I am physically and mentally exhausted.

Why not stop?  

Don't think I don't ask myself that every day. But I can't each day when I open my inbox and read the stories by women who have never written before, women who have taken the risk that their story might be rejected, these are women I admire, women who show me that Diverse Traveller is a worthwhile project.

But I am not superwoman and some days, I am overwhelmed by my business desire. To help, as I wait for my PC to boot up, I kick off my working day by reading the words on the inspirational calenders surrounding my work area. Today as I contemplate the many all things I have given myself to do today, I reflect on the following wise words from Maya Angelou ...

" Each of us has the right

and responsibility to assess the rods which lie ahead and those over which we have traveled,

and if the future road looms ominous or unpromising and the roads back uninviting,

then we need to gather our resolve and, carrying only the necessary baggage,

step off that road into another direction.

Staying true to my passion

After years working in corporate UK, Diverse Traveller is my creative outlet, an expression of my passion for travel and sharing travel experiences.

So if being exhausted is my necessary baggage, I carry it with determination to see Diverse Traveller grow in as many directions as I can. The first offline meeting on February 24th, 2010.

So gathering my resolve, taking a deep breath and sipping on very strong very hot coffee, I open my business plan document and kick-off my working day.

Keeping an open mind regarding adventure travel

On the last Saturday of January, I visited the Adventure Travel Live 2010 exhibition in London. Adventure travel is not my type of travel, in fact the thought of soaking myself while white water rafting, exhausting myself while hiking or lying down with insects while camping in the wilderness fills me with dread. By now you are probably wondering why I bothered to go to the Adventure Travel Live Exhibition?

Adventure travel appeals to women

Adventure recreation is a specific form of leisure that tends to be physically and intellectually challenging and predominantly accessed in natural environments. 

Traditionally it has been perceived to be a male dominated arena, however today women now account for over 60% of all adventure travellers are women. More and more women now want to hike, canoe rivers, fish, view wildlife, scuba dive, bicycle, sail, mountain climb, ride horses and learn about other communities worldwide.

According to Lisa Johnson (lisa@reachwomen.com) CEO of ReachWomen ...
    "The adventure-seeking woman is surprisingly hard to define with traditional demographics. She may be a single woman—of any age—who has extra time and disposable income. Or, she could be an empty-nest Boomer or a woman with kids in high school and beyond. New moms also often have a thirst for adventure, but they may need to scale it down to accommodate their extra-busy lives and additional demands."

I was attending the show to see if my view of Adventure travel was now an outdated one, and to find out what was causing so many other women to become more adventurous.

Roaming around

Like many other travel show, there were many familiar names, companies such as STA Travel, Journey Latin America, Bradt Travel Guides, Dragoman Overseas Travel, Nomad travel store, and Wanderlust magazine. I decided to give these companies a miss as I can find out what they are offering online. Instead I was looking for companies that appeared more intriguing.

My show guide told me that throughout the day, talks would be held in the six theatres. Talks by intrepid travellers such as Simon Calder who chaired a panel on adventurous journeys: Trains; plans and automobiles. Panelists included Mark Smith otherwise known as The man in seat 61. Unfortunately, I missed this and one I had hoped to attend, 'Run around the world' by Rosie Swale-Pope, and 'living the dream - rowing and capsizing in the Atlantic' by Rachel Smith.

My show favourites:

1. My first stop was at the stand of Beyond the blue: safe gap year travel where I had a long chat with managing director, Peter Mayhew. 

 Peter told me that safe gap year travel is not your run of the mill travel safety tips company. His company runs two day workshops, £185 inc. VAT per candidate, to deal with the realistic problems independent travellers might encounter, problems which could cut short and ruin a trip.

The first workshop deals with personal safety, something I said would be of interest to Diverse Travellers, particularly the section on low-impact physical break-away and disengagement techniques, which he stated are effective without force or strength. Day two is about planning for safe travel. Where attendees examine the practicalities of travel as well as general travel safety issues. Website: www.safegapyear.com

2. I was delighted to stop at inventor, Isla McLean's stand, Isla has invented the travel accessory for the traveller who has everything  - uloop.

Isla, currently a charity worker with Marie Currie Cancer Care, has travelled the world with backpacks and suitcases, with safekeeping of her luggage a high priority. Worrying about her luggage led her to invent the uloop.

Uloop is an anti-theft device designed to be attached to a traveller or a fixed object. So, if someone tries to steal your luggage that is attached to the uloop an alarm will be triggered.

Explaining why she invented uloop, Isla said, "We have all experienced that dreaded moment when we are travelling and want to catch some sleep, but are too afraid to even blink through fear of our luggage being stolen by opportunistic thieves. So we end up coming up with innovative ways to protect our belongings, usually sleeping on our suitcases which is not always practical, or comfortable."

Isla has agreed to do an interview about her travels and uloop for Diverse Traveller's regular feature 'Woman's World.' Until then, find out more about uloop, £19.99, at www.uloop.it

3. Kootch Adventures. I enjoyed my chat with Ali Hendessi of Kootch Adventure Travel. On stopping at his stand, I asked, "Why Iran?". To which he replied with a smile, "Why not?" he went on to share his insights from numerous trips, over the last ten years, to Iran. To read Ali's response to my question visit the Kootch Adventure Travel website.

4. Last year a new word entered the travel dictionary, "Glamping" i.e glamorous camping. With one in five of us staying in the UK last year, there has been a rise in the number of people choosing camping holidays. But these days we are turning away from traditional caravans, and choosing trendier alternatives such as my next stop Spaceships.

Spaceships are a cross between a car and a campervan. From £20 per day, these vehicles offer the independent traveller the flexibility of a car with the accommodation and mini facilities of a campervan. Already popular in Australia and New Zealand the Spaceship landed in the UK in July 2009. To find out more visit the spaceship website www.spaceshipsrentals.co.uk

5. According to Britt Das and her business partner James, via their tour company Untamed Borders claim "it's time to visit Afghanistan". And Britt should know, she travelled to Afghanistan in 2008, while on a walking trip from Amsterdam to Nepal.

I was intrigued about both Britt's walk and why she thinks this is the time to visit Afghanistan. Britt said in spite of the on-going turmoil in the country she found the people welcoming and peaceful. She wants travellers to visit Afghanistan in order to change the perception of the country and help grow local businesses.

Brett has agreed to be interviewed for Diverse Traveller's regular feature 'woman's world' , where she will share more about her epic journey on foot and her experience of travelling in Afghanistan. Visit www.untamedborders.com to learn more about tours to and through Afghanistan.

Other stands of interest:

1. Tick Alert - Tick Borne Encephalitis affects 10,000 people every year and they are not in some far off tropical land they are in mainland Europe. Just writing about this is making me itch.

These ticks are found in the countryside, hills, mountains and other rural areas. And don't think if you are visiting a city you won't be affected as they can be found in cities like Prague. To learn more and find out if you could be at risk visit www.tickalert.org

2. Oz-Bus: After the success of their bus trip from London to sydney the Oz Bus have added a new itinerary London to New York. Yes London to New York by bus, well mainly bus, the itinerary also includes travel by train and ferry. Covering 16 countries, 3 continents and 12 U.S. states, the trip takes 95 days and costs £5999.

I asked Steve, from the company, who takes these trips. He told me travellers were very diverse from young people on a gap year to retired couples. And in line with the research the gender split was 60:40 women. he said women tended to travel this way as they felt secure. To find out more visit www.oz-bus.com or call them on 01480 810080.

Overall impression

Due to my poor time keeping and long chats I missed most of the talks. But I had no regrets as the time spent learning about the different types of adventure travel on offer showed me that I had a very outdated view of adventure travel. No longer do I have to embark on strenuous activity making myself uncomfortable in order to call myself an "adventure traveller"; instead I can indulge myself by taking leisurely tours, camp in a modern vehicle, or sit back and enjoy the view from a bus. I hope to experience at least one adventure holiday this year, but if not, I'll visit the show next year to see the new adventures on offer.

Free travel to Istanbul

Who says you have to have money to travel? Take me for instance, a group of ladies I know are travelling to Instanbul for a long weekend next month; unfortunately, despite my peny-pinching ways I am too broke to join them.

Do I moan, cry or steal. No! Instead I indulge my imagination via Diverse Traveller, a story by Sarah Irving: Istanbul - a city of cats and Turkish baths and ears and eyes via an Istanbul video, see below, on Youtube.

It may not be the same as being there, but with the mesmorising music and images it'll do for now.