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March 13, 2011

Presenting: Lash - Solo World Traveler since 1991

Social media has an interesting way of connecting people around the world. Looking through my news feed on Facebook one person's updates caught my attention and I started to surf to her blog to learn a bit more about her and her background. When I realized that this woman had been traveling solo for 20 years in different parts of the world, I wanted to find out more about her and we connected for a talk on Skype.

Well, my curiosity was rewarded and I came across a human being with a remarkable and unusual life story. Meet Lash, an American woman, who set off in 1991 to move to Japan where she lived for six years to save money for her trip around the world that so far has taken her through many parts of southeast Asia, Europe and Australia.

1. Please tell us about yourself and your background.

I grew up in a typical American family in several small towns. My family took many trips around the eastern USA visiting national parks, forests, mountains, seashores, rivers and so on. We did lots of camping, hiking and enjoying nature.

By the time I was in high school I couldn't wait to get out of small town life and into the exciting world out there! I left high school early to attend University in Pittsburgh, Pa and never looked back!


Lash in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2. What originally stimulated your interest in travel?

I credit 3 major factors to creating my current life as a long-term independent world traveler.

1. The travel with my family as a child definitely stimulated my interest in travel and my love of nature. I loved being out on the road, hiking in forests, clamboring up streams, frolicking in the ocean and climbing mountains.

2. In my early 20s my boyfriend and I went on a cozy New Year's weekend retreat to a countryside B&B. At the time we knew someone who had recently completed a 6-month round-the-world-trip, so I suppose that was vaguely on our minds. In any event, my boyfriend exclaimed out of the blue “hey, maybe we should go on a world trip” At that instant something CLICKED in my soul and I knew, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that's what I was going to do the rest of my life! Crystal clear.
I began preparing for that trip immediately, but my boyfriend had just been 'chattering'. He had no inclination to actually do it! So off I went on my merry way. I didn't know HOW I was going to do it, I just knew I was going to...

3. When I was finishing up University, a good friend was living in Tokyo. He kept telling me how 'rich' he was teaching English in Japan. Bingo! I decided I, too, would go to Japan in order to save money for my world adventures.


Scuba diving preparations in Bali

3. You spent a number of years in Japan. Please tell us about that experience.

I lived in Kyoto, Japan for 6 years, which I absolutely loved! Kyoto is the original capital of Japan (from about 800-1200 AD) and still considered the cultural heart of the country. On the side I was teaching English to save money to travel the world, but I really spent my time, focus and energy immersing myself entirely in the traditional arts of Japan. I studied tea ceremony, flower arrangement, koto (harp), aikido, butoh dance, shiatsu massage, taiko drumming and wearing a kimono. I regularly put on my kimono, attended temple tea ceremonies, performed publicly, went to performances and art exhibits, attended festivals, ate at specialty Japanese restaurants... and so on.

When I had time off I explored Japan by train, bicycle and foot. In 6 years I managed to visit about 40% of the country. I soaked in hot onsens in mountains under falling snow, trudged up 100s of stone steps to mountain-top temples, chugged through the countryside on squeaky clean trains, camped in the wilderness, cycled around several islands and peninsulas, and enjoyed my 1st tropical Christmas on Okinawas' Iriomote island.

It was 6 years of truly amazing living! I was sad to leave but thrilled to begin my world travels.


4. What places have you visited in South Asia? Where do you usually stay? What about your experience adjusting to the local cultures and way of life? And what makes South Asia special to you?

Most of my recent 20 years of life I've spent in Asia! This includes 6 years in Japan, followed by 13 years traveling around southeast Asia (and a few other places). I've visited most Asian countries extensively, several by bicycle. As it would be impossible here to detail 13 years of travels, I encourage you to explore my travel site about the countries you're interested in. I've listed all the stories, by country here.


Coast of Amed with Mt. Agung and Mt. Batur in the background


5. Please give us your insight into traveling around the world as a woman. What about safety on the road? Do men come on to you or harass you?

Probably the 1st and most important insight is this: America is a much more dangerous place than many other places in the world! Really!! All the countries I've traveled through in Asia are infinitely safer than the USA. Asia is safe. That's the main thing you need to understand.
In addition to that, I practice the following;

1. I expect to be safe. Thus I exude the right attitude, project 'safe' energy out into the universe, and automatically take actions / make decisions that ensure my safety, without even thinking

2. I have a strong character and I'm physically fit. Therefore I don't seem like someone to easily mess with.

3. I'm friendly, smile a lot and project a happy high energy.

4. I have a 'pact' with myself: If I ever get into a situation where I feel unsafe or threatened I get out immediately. Usually this entails leaving an isolated situation into a populated area.



Lash at Dali Museum, Florida


6. You also spent some time traveling through Europe. Please tell us about those experiences.

I took my 1st trip abroad at 21. I visited London and Paris for one week each. I loved London. As for Paris, although the architecture was marvelous I found the Parisians quite snotty. I actually left early and returned to London! I was quite punk at that time, so I suppose the Parisians didnt' care for that while the Londoners were used to it by then!

In 2008 I spent 3 weeks on the Costa del Sol visiting my aunt and uncle. The Mediterranean surprised me with its clarity and great uncrowded beaches. After traveling through SE Asia for so long, I expected European beaches to be disappointing.

Following Spain I spent 3 months in England. I liked Manchester much better than expected. The city is full of very interesting history and architecture. Unfortunately, the horrid work and living situation I got myself into clouded most of my British experience, so I'll just leave it at that.

7. Please tell us about your travels in Australia.

I traveled around Oz for 9 months in 2003. I pretty much saw the eastern half of the country. As usual, I immersed myself in the outdoors, visiting many national parks, mountains and jungles. I also explored several cities, cycled up the east coast and scuba dived on the Great Barrier Reef. I fulfilled 5 long-standing childhood dreams: *see the Sydney Opera House, * see koalas and kangarooos in the wild * visit the Great Barrier Reef * visit Uluru (Ayer's Rock). My fondest memories, however, are my 2 wwoofing experiences in Queensland. I've written 17 stories about my Australian travels, including 2 on Wwoofing: http://lashworldtour.blogspot.com/search/label/Australia


19th century pub in central Manchester, England

8. You also spent some time in Brazil, working on the crew for “Survivor”.

Yes, I crewed 2 episodes of Survivor: Thailand and Amazon, both in 2002. An amazing, stimulating experience! I've written 14 stories about my crewing time, so if you've ever wondered what it's like to work on a film set or pondered the 'making of' of 'Survivor' here's your chance to find out:
http://lashworldtour.blogspot.com/Survivor/


9. Occasionally you travel back to the US. How do you view your home country now? What about experiences of culture shock?

Needless to say, the USA is exceedingly different from Asia, on all topics from interpersonal communications, personal habits and mannerisms, food, interests to the arts, you name it. Not surprisingly I find it really bizarre each time I return to the States, which I do about once in 2 years. I've recently written 2 posts about that very topic. They've become my most popular posts to date:
http://lashworldtour.blogspot.com/2011/01/culture-shock-strangeness-of-being-in.html
http://lashworldtour.blogspot.com/2011/01/flip-side-of-culture-shock.html


Lash on bike during circumnavigation of Bali

10. Bicycling has played a major role in your travels. Now you are writing a book about it. Please tell us more.

Yes. I started cycle touring in Japan as one means to see the country. I loved it! By the time I set out on my world trip I decided to travel by bicycle. I flew into Bangkok with my bike in a box and my backpack. After exploring Bangkok I headed out, cycling down the entire east coasts of Thailand and Malaysia to Singapore, about 2000 km. I wasn't in any rush! In fact, I explored the coasts and islands quite thoroughly en route. It took me 3 months and was a grand adventure.

I continued cycling the next few years, through Bali, Java, Laos, more of Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Nepal, and Australia. Gradually I cycled less and less. Much of that was due to becoming a dive instructor and working on remote islands with few or no roads. Nowadays, I mostly use bikes to get around cities, though I do still take longish road trips as well.

Last year when I returned to Bali, for the Xteenth time I immediately decided to write a guidebook on cycling Bali. After all, I'd been cycling there off and on for 10 years, knew loads of routes, and understood just what needed to be included in a guidebook. So I repeated many familiar routes, taking detailed notes on distances, road conditions, etc. I also circumnavigated Bali for the 2nd time, also compiling notes and useful facts.

During the trip I wrote daily stories about my adventures, which are here

I'm actually writing 2 guidebooks on Bali. The other is on Hiking the Mountains in remote Amed, Bali's NE coast. I've already spent 3 dive seasons there in recent years, so I know the area well. Last year, in between diving gigs, I hiked the mountains for 2 months, compiling notes on 20 hikes, and repeating each route several times for accuracy.

Now I'm in the process of writing the guidebooks. Next comes editing, re-re-editing then the publishing process. I will release them both this year in print and ebook format.


Thanks, Lash, for taking the time for this interview and all the very best for your upcoming plans as a writer and traveler.

 

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