by Andrew Hyde
As a solo female traveler, Lisa has been to the summit of Mt. Fuji, the pyramids of Egypt, lived at a Buddhist Monastery in Nepal and got lost in the Jungles of Peru. Two years later, we met up in a bar in the West Village in New York City to talk about travel and life, now Lisa, a twenty-something that has reinvented her career to a job in tech in NYC is revisiting her travels as she is building a career.
What was the first trip you took?
My first trip abroad was a one month trip to Israel. I was 15 years old, and it was with a youth organization. This trip opened my eyes to the beauty and amazement of the world and was definitely the first bite of my travel bug. However, this was the first and last organized group trip I ever took.
Upon graduating high school at the impressionable age of 17, I took off on my first solo backpacking adventure to Europe. This solo travel experience was the pivotal moment to my wanderlust lifestyle and I haven’t looked back since.
What have you gained from traveling?
It’s difficult to quantify exactly what one gains from traveling. There’s a world of opportunity out there and it can only be experienced once you step out of your comfort zone, and into new and exciting territories. I’ve learned more about myself and the world in which we live through traveling, than I ever could have imagined. I’ve also gained lifelong friendships and memories along the way. I’m able to view things from a new perspective, now that I have been exposed to so many different types of people and cultures. This perspective on life has been invaluable to my growth and development as a person, and will only continue to grow the more I travel and experience what the world has to offer.
How did you plan, and what was your most memorable travel experience?
Any adventure traveler will tell you the best plan is a flexible one. I’d say one of my most memorable travel experiences was backpacking through South East Asia, and living at a Muay Thai Fight camp in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
I had just finished my year-long teaching contract in Japan and knew I wanted to travel around South East Asia before heading back home to NY. I bought a flex-pass around the world ticket, shipped all my stuff home and left. Nepal, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Egypt and Dubai were the tentative pins on my travel map.
However, once I arrived in Thailand I knew my plans were going to change. It was my second day in Bangkok and I decided to check out a Muay Thai Boxing match, a very common sport/martial art/tourist attraction in Thailand. After viewing a few fights, I thought to myself “I could totally do that!”
Being a frequent solo-female traveler I thought having a few self-defense skills under my belt would be a smart idea. I went to a local internet café, googled “muay thai fight camps” and came across a live-in camp up north, in Chiang Mai. I reserved a spot and the next day I took the 12 hour train ride, with absolutely no idea what to expect. I planned on being there only a few days, learn a few moves, and then be on my merry way to the next Thailand destination. I was wrong. Nothing prepared me for what I was about to encounter.
As soon as I arrived to the fight camp, I was greeted with seemingly judgmental and inquisitive eyes. Now, allow me to set the picture for you…here I am, an untrained, inexperienced girl from NY, arriving to something straight out of a movie. The fight camp was an outdoor training facility with a make shift roof, 2 large boxing rings, a mirrored wall, large tires, punching and standing bags, and 40+ professional fighters from all over the world, seriously training Muay Thai and dressed in only Thai boxing shorts.
Not only was I the only female at the camp, but I was also the only non-professional. Imagine a blue eyed, curly haired, curvy Jewish girl from Queens looking to tone up a bit and learn a few self-defense moves. Clearly, I was in over my head here.
I knew I had to appear confident and fool everyone into thinking I was here to train seriously, myself included.
My first day was rough. I was sweating vodka from partying in Bangkok the night before and I had no idea what routine — or person — to follow in this overwhelming situation. I was on my own, yet surrounded by a plethora of professional fighters, Thai trainers, and boxing gear.
“You, run!” one of the Thai trainers yelled to me, as he pointed towards the unmarked, unpaved, road outside of our training facility. So I did just that. I ran. Well, more accurately, I speed walked as much as my hangover would permit. I didn’t know where I was supposed to run or for how long, so I wandered the roads for a bit, hoping to see the flock of gorgeous men from my training camp, and follow them back.
As soon as I got back to the camp the training really began. As the only female on premises I was obviously singled out by the Thai trainers, and put into the ring to do pad work right away. The pad work consisted of me and a trainer inside the ring, throwing punches and kicks, working on form, blocks, and some light sparring. This became my favorite part of the training regimen.
After about twenty minutes in the ring, I was told to stand in front of the mirror and do some “shadow boxing.” This is where I was to practice the moves I had learned while in the ring, improve my form, and stand among forty men punching and kicking the air, lacking the grace and expertise they all possessed.
Once I got tired of watching my fighting reflection in the mirror (well, more accurately watching the shirtless men around me perform their moves in the mirror) I then moved onto the body bags. When training with the bags you are able to work freestyle at your own pace, this was a nice little break.
After the bags, I was then called to the floor to work with a trainer. Throughout the whole training process there were brief breaks where everyone had to stop what they were doing, get on the ground and perform twenty pushups. Unfortunately for me, the “girly knee” pushups were not acceptable. Being a mildly fit female, I was only able to perform about five real pushups within my first couple of days there. But, by the end of my stay, I was able to keep up with the men and do twenty real pushups, a feat I never expected (nor really desired) to accomplish.
After the floor work, I was back in the ring, expected to perform at an improved rate compared to the first round, given that I had about two hours of practice.
The trainers were merciless. I was under the assumption that they would have pity on my poor, untrained, womanly body, but they did not. They pushed me hard, and kicked me even harder, they assumed I was strong, and wanted me to be even stronger. They tested my will, my determination, and my physical limitations to the breaking point. Maybe for recreation, maybe for humor, and maybe to see how serious I was about taking part in this intensive training, they kicked my ass, and kicked it hard.
Seven pm approached, a staggering three hours after my arrival to the camp, and my first training session was over. It was time to retire to my room, which was in an apartment complex on the camp facilities, shared with all the other guests and trainers.
The day was over, my body was aching, and I was covered in bruises, but it left me thirsty for more. I actually enjoyed the pain, not in the way a masochist enjoys pain, but I felt accomplished, I felt strong. I had fallen, had been beaten and battered, but I had also picked myself up and come back for some more.
The schedule at our camp was the same five days a week.
In between our training sessions and days off, I became really close with the men at the camp. Their countries of origin spanned from America to Australia, Europe to Ecuador, and Canada to Columbia. It was a melting pot of attractive men, all here with one purpose, to train Muay Thai Boxing.
Arriving at the Muay Thai fight camp, I had no idea what to anticipate, nor did I expect my 3 day stay to turn into 6 weeks. I had no idea it would be so difficult, challenging and painful, but I also didn’t know how incredibly rewarding and amazing the experience would be. I gained confidence, valuable fighting skills, and lifelong friendships at the small cost of some massive bruises.
Many female travelers have trepidation about travel. What do you think about this?
I think it’s natural to be scared of
the unknown, especially as a female traveler. But, once you step out of your comfort zone, and you’re open to experience the amazing things the world has to offer, you’ll forget all about your trepidations and fears. There are so many great things one can gain from traveling. We can’t let our fears paralyze and prevent us from doing so. There is a whole world out there, and once you let go of your apprehensions and take that first step, the rest will come naturally.
Things happen on the road, what is something that happened to you that you just ran with?
I had just graduated college and planned a 10 week Euro-backpacking trip with my best friend, Katy. As we arrived to our first location and were making our way to our hostel, I tripped on the sidewalk and fractured my ankle. I had to go to the Emergency Room before we even checked into our first hostel! The doctor told me my ankle was fractured, placed me in a full leg cast, and told me to go home and keep off the ankle for the next 6-8 weeks. That clearly was not going to happen. Instead, I shipped home about 10 extra lbs of weight from my backpack, checked into our hostel, and had the most amazing (-ly painful) 10 weeks of my life. Backpacking Europe with a fractured ankle and full leg cast was not at all how I envisioned the trip to be, but because of it we made so many friends and experienced so many wonderful things along the way. We stuck out of every crowd and embraced that to the fullest. It was the perfect conversation starter, and although it did change our plans a bit, it only added to our amazing Euro-trip experience.
What tips do you give people aspiring to travel?
Don’t wait for the perfect time because it’ll never come. The longer you wait to travel, the harder it will be to go. Responsibilities build up over time. Just book your ticket, do a little research, reserve your accommodations for the first night and leave. Go with an open mind and a flexible travel plan.
Tell me about your volunteer experience.
I received an advertisement about living at a Buddhist monastery in Nepal and thought that sounded pretty amazing and right up my alley. So, I did a little research and found some volunteer programs around Nepal. The one I chose was a dual program, part volunteer work, part adventure trips around Nepal. It was the best of both worlds. I traveled around the country on different volunteer projects, from teaching English to Buddhist Monks in Kathmandu, to working with a medical team in a small village in Sanga, to bathing elephants in Chitawan, this program encompassed everything I wanted and more. After my 6 week volunteer program was completed, I then took part in a two week trek around the Himalayas.
Living in a third world country like Nepal was incredibly challenging. However, being able to give back and truly make a difference in people’s lives helped me get through the difficulties I faced. I tried to embrace the challenges as best as I could, by making a valiant effort to learn about the culture and language, which definitely helped my transition to the lifestyle. Sometimes you have to give up a part of who you are in order to grow into who you’re meant to be.
Can you tell me about working on the road?
I worked a few jobs, most notably as an English teacher in Japan. I had recently graduated college and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I knew I had to make a decision and make one quick. Traveling had always been a big part of my life, but it had not taken me much farther than Europe. I still had a burning desire to see more of the world, and knew that desire wouldn’t be filled in two weeks a year. A friend of mine had a sister who taught English in Japan, and that option was always in the back of my mind. As the summer came to an end and my parents pressure increased I thought, what better way to “join the real world” than to explore it?
I decided to apply for a teaching position in Japan and see what happened from there. After a series of grueling interviews followed by an intense screening process, I was offered a position to work for one of the largest English schools in Japan. There was no hesitation and no doubt. Accepting this position meant spending the next year in a country I’d never visited, with a language I’d never spoken, on a part of the world I’d never seen, and it was going to be amazing.
Living there not only opened my eyes to the wonderful and whacky culture of Japan, but also opened up a whole new world to me and gave me access to the different and incredible countries of Asia.
Travel is often best when you take yourself out of the comfort zone. What is an example of you taking yourself out of your comfort zone?
I believe any time you travel, you take yourself out of your comfort zone. Our regular routines are changed once we step foot on that foreign land and all regularity is thrown out the window. Some embrace that, and some fear it. Those who embrace that challenge are those most likely to find the greatest things, whether in search of it or not.
Did you have a moment in travel where you wish you had acted differently?
I got into a little trouble while traveling in India and, at the time, no one knew I was there. I neglected to tell my friends and family I was going because I knew they would disapprove. So I went without telling anyone, which I now realize was one of the biggest travel mistakes I ever made. Luckily, I got out of my situation alive; I realize not telling anyone of my travel plans could’ve been a lot more detrimental. Also, when traveling to developing nations, always register with the Department of State. This will come in handy if anything ever happens while you’re there.
If you were to go two places on a future trip, what would they be and why?
Hmmm, that’s a tough question; there is a whole world out there I’m itching to see! If I were to say only two, I guess I would choose Australia and Antarctica. I know that sounds a bit odd, but my goal is to step foot on all seven continents before I turn 30 (five down, two to go, two and a half years left). I hear amazing things about Australia, and know I will absolutely love it there. Plus, I have a lot of mates residing in Oz and have never come across an Aussie I didn’t love.
Getting to Antarctica proves to be a challenging journey because it’s quite a difficult and expensive process. However, I can only imagine what a beautifully untapped destination that will be and look forward to getting there within the next two and a half years.
How do you describe your relationship with travel?
Traveling is no longer something I do. But it is in fact who I am. I’m in love with the world, yet I know the world has many lovers. Traveling is not just a hobby but a way of life: a passion and an insatiable hunger that only grows with each additional stamp on my passport. It’s made me the person I am today and will continue to allow me to grow into the person I am someday meant to be. Traveling will always be a huge part of my life and although my travel arrangements and preferences may change or evolve with time, it will always be a prevalent force in my life.
If there were a traveler’s creed, what would it be?
This is a quote I made up while on the road and try to continuously live my life by: “The world is too big for one to truly see, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying.”
Chapter 11
A DRUNK MONGOLIAN RUSSIAN
No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.
—Heraclitus
OVER THE ATLANTIC
I consider myself to be a peaceful man. I have been in just two fights in my entire life — though I will confess that each of these fights did, in fact, result in just one punch of mine each. But I dislike fighting so much, I make sure they don’t last long: two fights, two punches, two knock-outs.
A peaceful man.
However, I am big enough — and have just the right dose of a baby face — for people to think that I really might be trouble. Or a little crazy. Or maybe just lame. I seem to repel nice old ladies and town bullies in equal measure. Perhaps it’s for this reason that I love assigned seating on airplanes: you can’t just look me over and write me off in exchange for a safer, smaller, more peaceable bet. Nope, in these instances, I am the single serving friend — your single serving friend. No choice in the ma
tter, you will have to say hello — if only to then look away and attempt to find preoccupations that will allow you to ignore me for the rest of the flight.
This is the recurring game that we all play. Flying!
Every so often, however, you find yourself in a situation where both you and your temporary neighbor are in the mood for a conversation and you enjoy a beverage or two together. Or five. I once shared a few with a plastic surgeon who — after we were both cut off by the stewardess — invites me to come in and get abdominal implants the very next day. I passed. Should I have? The single serving friend should probably never provide services like that — you know, the kinds that will leave permanent, corporeal marks.
Regret and travel share a strange relationship. It’s rare to hear a traveler speak of regrets — as if we opt instead to reach for the bright side of every situation, where every close call becomes a glowing pearl of a great story. I have a friend who proposed to and married a Colombian girl right there on the dance floor. They are still married years later and he cares for her children. No regrets. I just checked in with a farmer from Idaho who still carries a sizable scar he got at Full Moon Party in Thailand. He would do it again, he says, in a heartbeat.
Well, let me just say that I regret every minute I spent with a Mongolian Russian named Lev.
Lev was my single serving person that sat next to me on a flight from New York City to Hamburg, Germany. We began the journey by chatting innocently enough — though things took a decidedly dismal turn once the complimentary drink cart came by.
He ordered six shots of vodka and two beers.
I started laughing. That is a great joke, I thought. Who orders eight drinks in one breath? Well, a Mongolian Russian named Lev does — and on Lufthansa, well, they will apparently make that happen. I ordered red wine. ONE glass of red wine, just to be clear. He lined up and took six shots, one after another, slamming a beer to wash them all down. As if that were not enough, he then opened up his jacket, retrieved ten or so red and blue pills and proceeded to swallow them en masse as he downed his last beer.