The Art of Solo Travel, Plus tips for Japan and Hawaii with Pamela Holt

Thanks to Pamela Holt
Stream "Me, Myself & The World" Seasons 1 & 2 Now: Amazon Prime | GoTraveler | Tubi
@ThePamelaHolt

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Previous Episodes on Japan:
Episodes: 194, 195, & 196

Previous Epiosdes about solo travel: 
Episodes: 9,  72, 129

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm Alexa and I'm Rory, and together we are.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
The.

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Romies, we are married.

Speaker 2 (00:08):
To each other.

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Right, we are a touring musical duo.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
And our music has taken us to all kinds of places
all around the world and keepsus always on the go.

Speaker 1 (00:17):
So we hope you enjoy our stories and adventures while
running around working to keepall your plates spinning.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
And we hope to facilitate your busy lifestyle
and feed your inner travel bug.
Hi everyone, welcome to ourDecember episode.
We are super excited to wrap upthis year with a really, really
fun guest.
This year we have had brandsponsors.
In this episode, we wanted tointroduce you to a couple of our

(00:46):
affiliate partnerships, and sobasically, what that means is
there is no additional cost toyou.
You head to our show notes, youclick on the links and you use
our specific links to goshopping and you shop from the
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but it doesn't cost anythingextra to you, and so that is one

(01:09):
way that you can help supportus with what we are doing.
You can help support thepodcast, but, more importantly,
you're gonna find some reallycool stuff for you and for maybe
some last minute Christmasgifts, if you need ideas and
things like that.
So please head over to our shownotes.
The affiliates that we arehighlighting are Clean Canteen

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Y'all.
I put my tea in a Clean Canteenthe night before and it is
still hot the next morning.
We are going to be talkingabout them later this year
because we just love CleanCanteen.
Check them out.
We have mentioned Yuko Gear toyou before, and we have also
briefly mentioned Fermu, andyou've seen them on our socials.
Fermu offers glasses,sunglasses or prescription

(01:54):
whatever you might need.
And then Yuko Gear is super funoutdoor gear.
So those are some of theaffiliate partners that we have.
So please visit the show notesof this episode, click on those
links, and Yuko Gear also has apromo code that is lasting, I
think, through the holidayseason.
So, depending on when youlisten to this, you can grab
that as well and get you somegood last minute deals.

(02:16):
And one more thing before wedive into our interview, we got
to mention all of our triviaquestions because that's
something we've just decided todo this year of our trivia
questions, because that'ssomething we've just decided to
do this year.
So I'm gonna throw those at youand then the answers will be
given at the very end of theepisode.
So you got to stay tunedthrough the whole thing, which
you are going to want to do,because this is just a super fun

(02:37):
interview that we have with ourspecial guest.
I will tell you about her injust one little quick second,
but first, first, first triviaquestion is which US state is
the TV show Breaking Bad set in?
Okay, that ended in apreposition, and so I obviously
did not write these All right.
Next one which country doesBill Tong originate from?

(02:58):
Whatever that is.
Next, which waterfall can befound on the US-Canada border?
And next, which US state is themovie Fargo set in, again,
ending with a preposition.
But that's okay.
Okay, and then, from whichcountry does the kebab originate
?
Okay, and the last one around1,000 statues called Moai,

(03:22):
created I'm sure I pronouncedthat correctly created by the
early Rapa Nui people, which I'msure I pronounced that
correctly created by the earlyRapa Nui people, which I'm sure
I pronounced that correctly canbe found on which island?
All right, so those are yourtrivia questions.
Stay tuned for the answers andstay tuned for our awesome, fun
interview with special guestPamela Holt.

(03:43):
Hi everyone, welcome to ourDecember episode of 2024.
We are super excited to haveyou joining us.
We are doing a video episode,so those of you who normally
only listen to us, there is avideo version out there now.
So, yeah, so check that out.
We are really, really excitedfor today's guest.

(04:03):
Today we have Pamela Holt.
She is the executive producerand Holt of the show Me, myself
and the World.

Speaker 1 (04:11):
She's the executive producer and host as well.

Speaker 2 (04:14):
What did I say?

Speaker 1 (04:15):
You said Pamela Holt was the Holt of the show.

Speaker 2 (04:19):
That's awesome.
She, she, yes, she is, sheholds everything together.

Speaker 1 (04:23):
Yes, she, yes, she is , she is the whole, everything
together yes, she does so.

Speaker 2 (04:27):
She executive produces, she holds and she
hosts, that's right her show memyself and the world which is
streaming on amazon prime gotraveler to be, and more.
We are really, really excitednot only to have this interview
with her but to share, just hearabout her stories and hope that
you will be inspired for yourown adventures, especially in

(04:50):
the world of solo travel we'regoing to dive into that.
So, pamela, welcome.
Thank you so much for beinghere.

Speaker 5 (04:56):
Thank you for having me, and fun.

Speaker 4 (04:58):
Thank you for welcoming me to your home here
in Waco, Texas.

Speaker 5 (05:01):
Yes, we're filming in our home.

Speaker 4 (05:03):
Yes, thank you for having me.

Speaker 2 (05:06):
Yeah, we're thrilled so Me, myself.
And the World is so aptlytitled, because it is a focus on
solo travel and an emphasis onthe art of solo travel.
Yeah, so tell us what got youinto doing a show about solo?

Speaker 4 (05:24):
travel, yeah, okay.
So, as you mentioned, thetagline for my show is the art
of solo travel and it's becauseI started solo traveling when I
was 19 years old.
I moved to Japan and I wouldsolo travel around while I was
working there and I really gotthe travel bug when I was
probably 13 years old.

(05:45):
Actually, I remember the momentwe were in Japan and I was
turning 14.
I was at a very famousrestaurant in Hong Kong.
We had just come from Japan.
I was in Hong Kong at oh now, Imisplaced the name in my head,
I'll think of it and they hadthe best French onion soup ever
I don't know why I'm in hongkong having french onion soup

(06:08):
but hey, when in rome, right,and I'm 13, so you know, and
everyone's saying happy birthday, and I looked down and I had
this new seiko watch I'd savedup all summer for it and I
bought it in hong kong and hereI was wearing this fancy Seiko
watch with the Roman numeralsand this whole restaurant was

(06:28):
singing happy birthday to me andI was like I was in hog heaven
and I just really got the travelbug at that moment.

Speaker 5 (06:36):
And like.

Speaker 4 (06:37):
I said by age 19,.
I was solo, traveling by myself, much to my father's chagrin.

Speaker 2 (06:44):
And yeah, this is before cell phones, this is
before the internet, and you'rejust winging it now, when you
were doing that, were you doesjapan because we haven't been
there yet we're going to talk alittle bit more about japan
later, but are did you?
Were there trains?
How did you get around?
Were you doing a lot of flyingtrains?
What were you doing?

Speaker 4 (07:05):
So I was living in Tokyo.
I live six stops off theIkebukuro line, which everyone
that has been in Japan, theypicture the map and they know
where everything is by the trainlines.
Okay, and I would switch homes.
I was directing a children'smusical, actually Charlie and
the Chocolate Factory.
Yeah, it was really fun.

(07:27):
I was directing it for thesekids and they were learning
English at the same time andwith a theater background, it
was perfect.
Yeah, Because you are aperformer and entertainer and
singer I am yes, I started mycareer as an actor and singer,
which I still do occasionally,but travel has really taken over
my life.

Speaker 1 (07:48):
We'll have to test that at some point, oh boy Okay
we'll sing a little duet.

Speaker 4 (07:54):
Aw, yeah, okay, and so I really.
It took me a long time toreally wake up in terms of
marrying the passion.
So I come from performingtheater, film and television.
I came from producing severalshort films, sold two short
films one at Sundance, one atthe Cannes Short Corner and I

(08:16):
was actually on my GoldenJubilee trip.
It was my 50th birthday.
I went to seven countries overseven and a half weeks and it
was on that trip that I realizedwait, a minute.
I was a travel host forflorence henderson.
I had this experience makingand telling stories and as a

(08:37):
filmmaker, and I had been to 92countries.
At that point, why aren't Imarrying my passions and putting
it all together and creating ashow?
So it was that eureka moment,yes, and I created me myself in
the world, the art of solotravel.
It's so fun.

Speaker 2 (08:56):
Now, in that process, I feel like you have sort of
redefined how people mightnormally think about solo travel
.
When they're like what, thefirst thing that comes to mind
when you say solo travel.
I feel like you have kind ofgiven us a different thing, a
different way to think about it.
So how would you do?

Speaker 4 (09:16):
that you know I was.
I got married just two yearsago, so thank you.
And for years I got that sadlook of oh, you're a solo
traveler.
Exactly everywhere on airplanes, at airports, with my friends
back in los angeles, everywhereI went it was like, oh, she

(09:38):
can't find anybody, she's alone.
And I hated the word alone,because I'm secretly watching
these couples who are feelingbad for me.
I'm like are you kidding me?
Like I'm the lucky one.
Like you two are going to bed at10 pm.
I'll be at the clubs andmuseums all day long and
creating all these adventures.
I don't have to ask permission,I don't have to get an

(10:00):
invitation, I can just go.
And I think what really came tome in particular this last year
is I've redefined solo travel,and s-o-l-o stands really for
seeking out life's opportunitiesand that's what I've been doing
all these years and that's whatinspired other women and men to

(10:21):
to look at my journey and mypath and say, well, well, how is
Pamela doing it?
I want to do that, and I thinkalso by redefining solo travel,
to seeking out life'sopportunities.
We're not talking about singletravel.
We're talking about solo travel.
That's for married couples,that's for people who are in

(10:42):
relationships, people who arenot in relationships.
It's about discovering theworld on their own terms and not
thinking of it in terms ofalone, not alone, single,
married, taken whatever, howeveryou want to define a
partnership, and it just opensup solo travel to everybody.

Speaker 1 (11:00):
Yeah, that's awesome.
I love the redefinition.
What's really cool to me alsois that you took who you are and
what existed Like it wasn't.
I'm going to create something Ithink the market will really go
for and I'm going to fit thatmold.
You know, no, you took who youare, what you've already been
doing, what your passion is, anddefined it.
And here it is.

Speaker 2 (11:22):
And then you're inspiring other people to do the
same.
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (11:25):
I got to tell you that was the biggest byproduct.
You know, throughout the years,through all my travels, I would
talk to women and I'm going tobe honest, I would brush off a
lot of their accolades Like well, just get up and go do it.
Like, okay, I don't need a paton the back for solo traveling
because it's so amazing and haton the back for solo traveling

(11:47):
because it's so amazing and Ididn't realize what it was doing
.
For women, because I didn'tlive their life.
I didn't not to be mean, Iwasn't strapped down by a family
or kids, and not that womenthink they're strapped down or
men think they're strapped down.
But there is, there's um, youhave to take in your, take into
account your family, right?
there's that considerationAbsolutely.

Speaker 1 (12:06):
Yeah, the dynamic is real.

Speaker 4 (12:08):
Exactly and I was freewheeling it all over the
world and that was real, yes,and a lot of these people felt
confined by the definition offamily and when I started
showing them that you know, thehusband could take a solo trip
to somewhere he wanted to go toand the wife didn't, or the
family really wasn't an optionfor the family to go there, and

(12:31):
also for the women and also forthe kids.
What a lot of people don'trealize is you're not
necessarily going to send yourkid on a solo trip, but we're
talking like starting age 13,.
You have the Lions Club, whopay for children to study abroad
.
They live with another familyand the deal with the Lions Club

(12:52):
is when someone takes in achild, that child is treated
exactly like any other child inthe family.
So if they go to Europe on aprivate jet, so does the kid,
and that family pays for it.
And I'm only mentioning thatbecause it actually happened.

Speaker 5 (13:07):
There was this family , I met.

Speaker 4 (13:09):
They did this program .
One kid ended up in likesub-Saharan Africa.
The other kid ended up in acastle with a very wealthy
family, like vacationing in thesouth of France on their private
jet.
Oh my gosh.
And the parents were like whatanyway?
And subsequently, that family,then um, alternate summers,

(13:29):
brought kids from around theworld into their home, and so
you have these kids, essentiallysolo traveling.
It's for everybody, at all ageswithin reason, and it will
change them.
It's, it's, it's it's life.

Speaker 1 (13:45):
Well, here's the thing.
I think you just hit on a keyfor for every age pretty much,
because seeking out life'sopportunities never ends.
I don't care if it's going 30minutes down the street and
exploring some an area of yourown area, because you're 95
years old and you know what Imean it's like seeking out
life's opportunities is foreveryone exactly.

Speaker 4 (14:06):
I actually met this woman.
Um, she, I think, was 97 andshe was solo traveling.
I gotta tell you she, shewalked around.
Everybody was scared of her.
This was on a cruise ship wherethey knew everything about the
passengers that came on theguests and she came on.
She looked like a puritan and Igot stuck going to lunch with

(14:27):
her.
One day.
They're like pamela, she wantsto meet you.
You know, can you have lunchwith her?
And I'm like oh, and I go there, like okay, I literally had
told the maitre d.
I was like all right, 45minutes into this, I'm needed
somewhere where's my?
signal yeah, yeah, I've gotrehearsal, I've got something.
I mean I sit down.
And her opening line was so um,I've traveled the world and

(14:52):
I've got lovers in every portand I'm like, forget the 45
minutes for you on the whiskey.
She drank whiskey, I was.
I was so aghast.
And what it turned out to be isshe came from a very, very
wealthy family.
Her parents unfortunately diedearly together and she and her
sister had said we never have torely on a man.

(15:14):
And they both set out to saythat they were going to be
spinsters their whole life.

Speaker 1 (15:19):
Come on.

Speaker 4 (15:20):
They were spinsters.
They kept this giant mansion.
They had, and they would comeand go, but they both traveled.
And they had, and they wouldcome and go, but they both
traveled and they had friendsall over the world, lovers all
over the world.
And she dressed one way and shewas another, and she was such
an inspiration and so yeah, solotravel is for all ages.

Speaker 1 (15:37):
I would think a hundred year old person telling
me opening the conversation likethat, I would have to.
Yeah, I need something strongerthan this she was drinking a
whiskey.

Speaker 4 (15:45):
I thought it was iced tea so that was fun great.
Oh, don't judge that book byits cover no, I loved her and
she was on the ship for like 45days on the stories I bet she
could tell oh yeah I love that,but because she has solo
traveled

Speaker 2 (16:01):
her life.
Yeah, I think that solo travelis such a great way to build
your independence, learn who youare, really discover a lot
about yourself.
I had a niece tell me, I thinklast year, when we went to visit
she's like you know what youencouraged me before I got
married to go overseas, and Ihad really encouraged her

(16:25):
because the family is very closeknit, don't get out much as far
as I don't mean it that way,but like they're, they're all
very centrally located togetherand they don't leave the area
right.
And so I was like before youget married, if you're not going
to go live on your own, you atleast need to travel on your own

(16:45):
before you get married, becauseyou need to like.
That was my advice to her.
Maybe other people havedifferent advice, but I just
felt like if you can know whoyou are and bring all of who you
are and you know who that is,that's who you bring to the
marriage.

Speaker 1 (17:00):
It makes it stronger.

Speaker 2 (17:03):
And so she went.
She ended up going to Russiafor a trip and she said it was
the best thing she ever did.
It made such a difference forher, it taught her things about
herself and then she was able tobring that into her
relationship and add to that.
And so even if you are marriedand whatever, whatever, like

(17:23):
Rory and I will do trips hereand there.
Oh, um, we will do even solotrips yeah well, we're always
married, but here and there wedo trips yeah, that's what I
meant.
Here and there we do a lot oftrips, yeah yeah, but we'll do
solo trips even right and solike sometimes he wants to go
visit his family and I gotthings I need to take care of,

(17:44):
so he'll go without me, or youknow, there's a lot of things or
I'll do business trips that hedoesn't go on, right, and so we
do that all the time and I feellike we are bringing all of us
into the marriage, even thoughwe're not doing everything
together.
Well, we do a lot of thingstogether, but even when we don't

(18:04):
do everything together.
We still are growing as people,learning things.
We have something else tocontribute.
Hey, let me tell you about this.
I had this experience that youhaven't had, so let me share.
You know, and it just deepensconnection with the people that
you are around and that you dospend your daily life with I
think the key is you havesomething to bring to the table
yeah

Speaker 4 (18:23):
you have something to share, something to bring to
the table.
And what you have something toshare, something to bring to the
table, and what you touched onearlier that's so important, is
when you're solo traveling, youare dependent upon yourself.
You have to carry all yourbaggage not physically, mentally
too so you are forced to hearyour thoughts, especially if
you're traveling in a countrywhere you don't speak the

(18:44):
language.
You're so often um by yourselfwith your thoughts and how it
really exposes yourself toyourself, of what are your
thought patterns, what are youspending your time thinking
about, and it exposes a lot ofthat.
And so there's so much room forgrowth, improvement and, more

(19:06):
importantly, you you're forcedto take care of yourself.
You're forced to reallyliterally live with your
decisions.
So if you're on your phone, notpaying attention, and you
forget a piece of luggage, missyour stop, it's only on you, and
it really can wake up a lot ofpeople to how responsible they
are for their actions, theirthoughts and their success.

Speaker 1 (19:30):
Yeah, you said something that I think is so key
.
I'm going to interrupt you herefor a minute.

Speaker 2 (19:34):
That's all right.

Speaker 1 (19:34):
That, I think, is so key.
You talked about carrying yourown baggage, both physically and
emotionally, when we travel.
And let's say, let's say she'sa cliche and she's a woman who
carries trunks and all thesebags, right, so if I'm with her,
she knows I can carry some.
If she's by herself, she'sgoing to put some of that down
and she's not going to take itanymore because she has to carry

(19:56):
it all herself.
For us, emotionally, when wetravel, it can be the same way
If we're having to carry allthat baggage by ourself.
If there's someone with us, welean on them to help us carry
that baggage.
When we're solo traveling, wehave to lay that baggage down,
which is a really healthy thingto do, and eventually we find we
can lay it down and walk awayfrom it.

Speaker 2 (20:22):
I think travel can also help you lay those things
down, because you are facingthat fear.
When you were talking, I waslike what you are saying right
now is probably scaring so manypeople, because I think one of
the biggest barriers to peoplein their travel is fear.
You're either fear of theunknown, but also, if they're
solo traveling, there's thatfear of I have to live with
myself.
I have to look myself in themirror, I have to listen to

(20:44):
these thoughts.

Speaker 4 (20:45):
And so something that I say it's a motto that I live
by and I talk a lot about it isfeel the fear and do it anyway.
It's a book by Susan Jeffers.
It's a book that really it's avery unrelated story.
It's just about a woman and herdecisions as a single mom to go
back to school.
It's the title of the book.

(21:06):
It's what the book stands foris these things are scary and
they're going to force you togrow.

Speaker 2 (21:12):
Right, and then you're no longer living in fear
once you face those right,that's right.
You can begin to let go of that.

Speaker 4 (21:20):
And a way that solo travelers.
A quick little tip is if youhaven't solo traveled, start
small.
If you live in Waco, texas,maybe go to Houston, go to
Galveston, drive an hour and ahalf, two hours up to Dallas.
Do small trips, do day tripsand be in control by a car.

(21:40):
So if you're in Frankfurt, goto a nearby town.
If you're in Parisfurt, go to anearby town.
If you're in paris, go over tolondon, somewhere that you can
really just get your feet wet.
And if you're enjoying yourstay, book a hotel and stay the
night and you know, or stay forthe weekend and slowly expand.
Then the next thing would be goto a neighboring state or a

(22:02):
neighboring country, if you'rein Europe, and then finally go
domestically, and myrecommendation is always to
start with an English.
If you're English speaking, goto an English speaking country
first.
Go to the UK, go to Australia,singapore, that's Iceland, new
Zealand.

Speaker 2 (22:22):
Exactly Go somewhere where I mean they all talk funny
there we were just.
We were just in scotland andsome of the funny accents.

Speaker 4 (22:30):
We're like yeah, we don't know how y'all understand
each other, but yeah so, butthat's a great tip for anyone
who's feeling the fear.
One feel the fear and do itanyway.
And two, start small.
It's Yep, in your solo travels,yep.

Speaker 2 (22:45):
Well, you released so far two seasons of Me, myself
and the World.
So season one tell us kind ofwhat you did in season one.
What were some highlights?

Speaker 5 (22:57):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (22:57):
And then after that we'll dive into season two.

Speaker 4 (22:59):
So in season one I go to Bali, indonesia, and then I
move on to southern vietnam andin bali, indonesia.
A lot of people don't know this, so bali is an island in 18 000
islands made up that make upindonesia, and bali is so
special it is that it used to bea kingdom all on its own.

(23:21):
And you, really, we dive intothe culture of the Balinese
people and their very calm,serene Hindu background affects
all aspects of their life, fromthe naming of the children to
all the flowers, and we reallyget to dive into that culture

(23:41):
through the cooking.
And that's something reallyunique is when you, when you
dive into the cooking of theflavors of the culture, you also
learn about the history, youlearn about the people the taste
the smells food and languageare so connected to culture, so
integral

Speaker 2 (23:56):
to experiencing absolutely so.

Speaker 4 (23:59):
We have a great time exploring bali, learning, like I
said, about the culture, thereligion, the people, and I
really try to get my feet alittle dirty or a little wet and
and do unique fun things whileI'm there, including staying at
bamboo inda, which is anincredible eco lodge when people
watch.
It was actually just named oneof the top four places in the

(24:22):
world by Time Magazine just lastweek, come on, yeah, it is so
incredible.

Speaker 2 (24:27):
So if you guys want to see what that is, watch
season one, yes, yes, season oneof Me, myself and the World.
Streaming now on Amazon Primeyes, and Go Travel and Go Travel
.

Speaker 5 (24:36):
Yes.

Speaker 2 (24:37):
And Tubi and more.

Speaker 4 (24:40):
And in season two I really get to the core of solo
travel.
I go off the beaten path, whichI do throughout both seasons,
and in particular I go tonorthern Vietnam, hanoi, and I
have the really distinctpleasure of meeting an American
veteran and I bring her togetherwith a Vietnam veteran and they
really share in theirexperience.

(25:02):
It's hard to talk about it andnot be emotional, because for me
, I'm a big supporter ofveterans and this was such a
cathartic moment, I think, forboth of them.
And in particular we learnedfor the vietnam veteran that he
had been through three wars andyou know, you just assume, oh my

(25:23):
gosh, if someone's been inthree wars, they're a
professional soldier.
This guy's a teacher.
He didn't want to serve in amusician, he didn't want to
serve in any of them, let aloneone of them, and had to recover
from that and raise a family andthen become a teacher and
musician and picked up all theseunique instruments.
And we get to see all of that.

(25:45):
And and one of the most movingmoments was with pat, who's the
us veteran, and we were we wereactually rolling camera and she
didn't know it and she just kindof said, oh hey, what's you
know, tell me more about theshow that you're shooting.
When we were just sitting downhaving a cup of coffee and I
said, oh, we'll all be.
In every episode I interviewyoung, old guys, girls, all

(26:10):
walks of life from all over theworld that are solo traveling.
She goes oh, you got your oldperson.
And I kind of look over at herand I was like aren't you in
your 60s?
And she again she doesn't knowwe're filming she goes yeah, I'm
like 67 or something.
I was like, oh, no, no, no, Idon't, you don't qualify like
I'm looking for someone in their80s or 90s.

(26:32):
And she wrote me several weekslater and she's from
pennsylvania and she said thatwas such a defining moment for
her that she didn't qualify forthe old person because in
pennsylvania she is fully signedup for senior dinners at 5, 30
and, you know, at 55 you get anarp card, exactly.

(26:53):
And she's like, oh my gosh, Ido not have to subscribe to that
.
And I said, no, you don't,you're 67, I'm gonna put you in
the middle-aged category.
And it really opened her.
It was.
That was one of the best partsand of course, helped her
realize her life is justbeginning.
Yes, in so many ways.
Yes, You're in the middleyou're not the end Right, and I

(27:16):
told her the story of the90-year-old who's solo traveling
spinster, yeah, and then, ofcourse, um, we are already
starting to map out season threeand season four.
They will be in the unitedstates, so I'm looking forward
to really sharing nicheneighborhoods of the united
states with people and all theamericana that makes up this

(27:39):
soup that we call the usa yeah,yeah, yeah, that that's going to
be fun.
The melting pot.

Speaker 2 (27:44):
And you have started filming that now, or you're just
in like pre-production.

Speaker 4 (27:48):
We're in pre-production, really mapping
out where we want to go, lookingat the different enclaves
within America that we canfeature and share with people.
One of the exploding marketsfor travel in 2024, moving into
2025, is actually the Indiamarket and I know it's so
surprising.

(28:08):
They are the biggest expandingMarket now and so to really show
these other markets, hey,what's in America Beyond the
movies?
Because everyone generally inAsia and a lot of other South
America, africa, europe theyjudge by the Hollywood movies.

Speaker 2 (28:27):
So let's show them a little bit more.

Speaker 4 (28:28):
We only know what we see on TV usually right, exactly
it's the same with us, untilyou get out and travel and see
for yourself what's going?

Speaker 2 (28:35):
on Exactly oh that's great.

Speaker 1 (28:38):
I love that you're going to show what you said the
Americana part of America,because there is a distinct
American culture in this strangetime of a new world order and
global government kind of stuff.
It's like no guys there is adistinct American culture and I
think sometimes that gets lostand I think it's so cool that
you're going to focus in on thatand show people this is America

(29:01):
.

Speaker 2 (29:01):
Yeah, the melting pot for the last 400 years of all
these conglomerate culturescoming together and creating
this, brewing up this wonderfulstew yeah, that's so cool, we,
we enjoy even being able to telleuropeans like if they're going
to come visit america, to justremind them, or tell them for

(29:21):
the first time.
Like every state feelsdifferent.

Speaker 5 (29:26):
Every state has its own flavor.

Speaker 2 (29:28):
It has its own personality, just like different
countries have their ownpersonalities.
Our states have differentpersonalities and it's really
fun to kind of find that andpreserve it and highlight it.

Speaker 1 (29:40):
Well, and not just in the state, but it's um, for
example, in Switzerland a littlesmaller pockets within those.

Speaker 2 (29:44):
Yeah, yeah, well, like in Switzerland it's, but
it's for example in Switzerland.
A little smaller pockets withinthose, yeah.

Speaker 1 (29:45):
Yeah well, like in Switzerland, it's like the size
of a small state, right Well,they've got German, french,
italian and Romance fournational languages.
Right Well, in any given statelike I'm from Louisiana north,
central, north, middle and southLouisiana, kind of three
different cultures and you canfind pockets up in michigan of

(30:06):
these total swiss culture, likethe whole town is like you're in
switzerland and the peoplethere still have the swiss names
and some of them still speaksome strange swiss german.
You know what I mean, yeah soeven within states there are all
these different cultures that,like you said, I've come
together and melted to createthis thing.
But just because you go to astate doesn't mean you've seen
all the cultures that exist inthat state right.

Speaker 2 (30:24):
So much to see, and I was kind of giggling at you
because like it's really funny,because rory will say, if I'll
say like, oh yeah, he's fromlouisiana, he's not from
louisiana, no, he is from southlouisiana oh one of those you
seem to get that right you

Speaker 4 (30:40):
have to say south louisiana, you can't just say
louisiana it's like if you sayyou're from California, everyone
defines no Cal or SoCal right.
Exactly, we are not the same.
Yeah, we are two differentbreeds.

Speaker 1 (30:55):
One of the first questions they ask in moving to
Texas.
We now live in Waco.
One of the first questions theyask is where did you come from?
Right Like well, we moved herefrom California.

Speaker 5 (31:06):
Exactly the is where did?

Speaker 1 (31:07):
you come from right like well, we moved here from,
from california exactly thebackup well, not everybody's
from la.

Speaker 2 (31:15):
You know we're not from there anyway but, yeah,
yeah, that's very, that's sotrue, yeah, totally, but totally
that was a good socal, thankyou.
Oh man, it's super fun to beable to see all of those
differences and all of thosesimilarities, like when you
travel, that's you know wherethat all happens and I feel like
with solo travel you get to beable to dive in I don't know in

(31:36):
a way that's comfortable for youand a pace that's comfortable
for you.
But like yeah what kind ofcompelled you?
Yeah, what kind of compelledyou.
I know we've talked about thisa little bit, but do you have
anything to add as far as, like,what compelled you to do an
entire show, an entire series?

Speaker 4 (31:52):
Yeah, Focused on that aspect of it.
So many people who would alwayssay to me I wish, I wish I
could, yeah, I I wish.

Speaker 2 (32:11):
And I said stop wishing and do just start
planning and go.

Speaker 4 (32:12):
Yeah, I remember this one instance of somebody.
This is so funny.
So I had gone to peru that waslike my 40th birthday trip and
it's so fabulous.
And I come back and a coupleyears into it, a friend of mine,
she says to me I'm going toperu and my first thought this
person is super la.

(32:32):
My first thought was I don'tthink they're gonna let her in I
don't even know why that evenappeared in my head.
I was like they're gonna denyher.
And I was like you.
And then I thought to my secondmyself you want to go to Peru.
And she goes, no, not your Peru, my Peru.
And I'm like, well, where'syour Peru?
She goes New Mexico and I'mlike, how is New Mexico Peru?

Speaker 1 (32:54):
Right, I'm trying to follow the thought pattern, I
realize they're not stronggeography in.
America all the time but.

Speaker 4 (33:00):
And she looks at me and she goes I would never go to
New Mexico.
And I'm like, but why she goes?
They wear blue jeans andturquoise and silver.
I don't do that.
And I was like you're so LA?
This is hysterical.
And I was like, okay, I triedto take her seriously.
I was like we'll prepare you,let's go buy a pair of jeans

(33:21):
like their kind of jeans.
They're going to buy you somecowboy boots, so you're prepared
and we're gonna try on somesilver before you go, and I may
even loan you some silver withturquoise turquoise in it.
She came back a different person, come on.
She danced with cowboys and theculture down there.
She did a shot of tequila, shedid all the things that were not

(33:42):
new york in la, and her lotusstarted to blossom to the point.
Fast forward 15 plus years.
She is now headed down to chile, argentina and, I think,
uruguay.
Wait for it by herself.
Now this is a total new york, lalady, she doesn't go to places

(34:03):
like that.
She is now going.
She is so excited, she's soprepared for it.
She's since gone to Italy byherself.
She now knows the joy of solotravel.
She now knows the art of solotravel.
She's so great at.
Just she sits down at arestaurant and by the time she
leaves, the owner is asking herto stay with them and she knows

(34:27):
every single person in therestaurant.
She's that kind of LA New Yorkgal and I don't think for me
there is a better joy than that.
That was my inspiration for her.
Every time I solo traveled, shefelt the fear for me and I was
like good, you hold that for me,I don't need that fear.
And she learned because I cameback healthier, happier, better,

(34:50):
more solid and a stronger womanevery time I came back and she
watched it and so once herhusband passed away, she had to
realize it was okay to blossominto this woman, that she could,
can be and how to live her lifegoing forward.
Oh, it's been so exciting.

(35:11):
Her name is heidi.
She's like my second mom.

Speaker 2 (35:13):
It has been so exciting to see her really
blossom through all this soinspiration benefits from solo
travel the list goes on aboutsome of those, and you just
touched on more yeah, I've saidso many times, travel can be
absolutely life-changing.

Speaker 1 (35:30):
Yeah, because you get set up, get outside of your
space and you see how peoplelive in other spaces and you go,
wow, that's, they're reallyhappy.
And you know what, while I wasthere in that space with them, I
was happy.
I really enjoyed that okay yeahit, it can absolutely change
your worldview.

Speaker 4 (35:45):
You know a story that just came to mind when I was
solo traveling for my goldenjubilee my 50th birthday, yeah,
because I think, like the 50th,the queen had had her golden
jubilee.
I was like, well, this is mygolden jubilee.
This is my queen and I didn'thave to tell people I was
turning 50.
I was like, well, anyway, 50.

(36:07):
I was like anyway, so I was onthat and I was in bhutan, which
is a less visited country, soincredible.
They're supposed to be thehappiest place on earth.
That's their yep, that's theirsort of motto, as well as their
sort of accolade.
And I was sitting with agentleman that had previously
been a monk and he had left the.
He still was a caretaker of atemple and very, very old

(36:27):
scrolls which we got to look at,and his wife and him and I want
to do.
So many people ask aboutAmerican politics and I just
wanted to open up the floor forwhat, whatever questions they
might have.
And I turned to the translatorand I said by the way, you know
they can ask me any questions.

(36:49):
Do they have questions aboutour politics, our food, like, um
, our relationship?
You know how marriages work?
Like what is it like to live inthe United States for us?
And he looks over at me and hestarts laughing.
He goes they don't know whatthe United States is.
And I'm like wait what?
And he goes they don't evenknow what the UK is, they don't

(37:13):
know what that is.
And I was like what they'relike?
They just got electricity, likeyou know, five years ago, and
they just got TV a couple ofyears ago and they only get like
three stations and it's allBhutanese information.
It's not like they'resequestered, they have no
interest.
They don't want McDonald's,they don't want Starbucks, they
don't even want a stoplight.

(37:34):
The stoplight was put in in themain roundabout.
People went crazy.
They took it down in 24 hoursand the prestigious job of being
the little white gloves wasrestored within 24 hours.
They were no interest in ourhullabaloo, because they're
carbon neutral and we're likedevastating our country and the

(37:56):
world.
It was so eye-opening.
They know what China is becausethey're about 35 miles from the
border, but beyond that, none.
It was just totally irrelevantto their lifestyle and something
that I've done in the past,which was really it's fun for me
.
I ask often people what is yourdream?

(38:17):
And a lot of people sort of gowhat you know?
That's a funny question.
But then somebody answers itand their family, who's been
with them, sometimes seven years, looks at them and says I
didn't know that.
So I asked the husband.
I said his name, we called himUncle.

(38:38):
I said what is your dream?
And he looked me squirt withoutmissing a beat and he said I've
always wanted to learn to writeand the nephew, the translator,
was like what?
So I bought them a bunch ofbooks like children's books and,
you know, little work books andI sent it to them.

(38:59):
He was so excited.
Will he learn it perfectly?
Maybe not, but he gets to starthis dream, pursuing his dream
Exactly, wow, exactly.
And I don't remember what herdream was, but she was more
interested in my shoes.
I had a pair of Skechers on andshe and I were the exact same
size.
Oh, come on.
So she's now got two pairs ofSkechers, which I often leave in

(39:22):
countries that I go to.
I love Skechers so much.
And she actually is so excited.
Like she walks around all overthe neighborhood and all over
the town with her Skechers andpeople are like where'd you get
those shoes?
And they're brightly colored.
It's just so interesting, like I, people have said what their

(39:43):
dreams are.
They're really incredibleanswers.

Speaker 1 (39:46):
So often we we never ask that yeah, you know, yeah,
we think it has to be thisunattainable.

Speaker 4 (39:52):
I'm going to the moon , kind of a thing right, maybe
it's, uh, someone to meet, maybeit's I've always wanted to do
this or that.
It could be simple, but peoplehave dreamt of things Like you
meet famous actors and you'relike what's your dream?
And they're like I have alwaysdreamed of being a chef.
And people are like, really,you know, and it goes both ways.

(40:15):
It's not always to be acelebrity or to be this or that.
Sometimes it's very simple tobe a celebrity or to be this or
that.
Sometimes it's very simple,very obtainable things.
So, yeah, it was really fun.
When I was leaving Bhutan Iwent into the airport shop and
there were all these likeworkbooks on for kids, like fun
things for kids to do on theplane.
So my joy wrapped it up, I gaveit to the person.

(40:38):
I said I'm gonna call someone,they're gonna stop by here in
two days time and they're goingto pick this all up and then
take it back to uncle so cool,oh man, that's so great, oh yeah
well, dreams tie in withpassions

Speaker 2 (40:50):
yes and you've talked about your passions and how
putting the travel show together, tied together all the things
you love and the things you liketo dream about and pursue.
I wanted to know, when you arefilming and you're having to
you're talking about solo travelwhen you're filming, but you
have a crew with you yeah, sobringing all of that together,

(41:13):
how does that?
How does that work?

Speaker 4 (41:16):
Yeah, um, you know a lot of people will ask me well,
how are you solo traveling?
Because it's a solo travel show?
How are you solo traveling whenyou have a crew?
Yeah, you're cheating, itdoesn't count, I am, I am and
I'm so glad you asked me thatbecause I actually solo traveled
for seven and a half weeks.
I did that trip by myself andthen I went back.

(41:38):
I think it was one of thosethings as a career filmmaker, I
was on this trip and it's hardnot to meet someone and the
second I shake their hand.
I'm like they'd be good oncamera.
You know, like my producer mindis like yep, oh, I got that
shot, I got that shot.
And so I did the seven and ahalf weeks alone, as a solo

(41:59):
traveler.
And then I went back and Irecaptured some of that and what
the real magic of filmmaking is.
I went and expected really arepeat of what I had done.
I didn't get that.
I got more For the places thatI went back to, got more like,

(42:20):
in particular, the train when Iwent back to in season two, when
I go up to the Hanoi train, itwas like we're just going there
for coffee, whatever.
This really cool train streetwhere the train comes and you,
you move your table so the traincan pass by and then you put
your table back down it.
It's insane, but what ended uphappening?
That's where I met the tourguide for the woman to the US

(42:45):
veteran to go meet theVietnamese veteran.
I mean, that is filmmakinggoldmine.
And then also, something thatI'm always excited about is a
key thing whether I'minterviewing a local,
interviewing a fellow solotraveler which is a repeated
segment on all the episodes orI'm just walking around talking

(43:06):
to people experiencing something, it is so important for that
camera to disappear in thebackground for people to really
be themselves and if, like withPat, the us veteran is, talk
long enough and get them focusedon the connection in the
conversation to let the cameradisappear.

(43:28):
Yeah, and, and that was reallythe gold mine of going back with
a crew, but having had, havingalready been there and
experiencing, or really walkingthe walk myself the first go
around, yeah, yeah, yeah, that'sneat.

Speaker 2 (43:43):
You've given us a couple of pointers and tips for
solo travel.
Start small, that kind of thing.
Do you have an additional tipsand recommendations for solo
travelers that you can impart?

Speaker 4 (43:55):
I can.
I mean, this will go for all,all travelers but just a couple
of safety things.
You really want to set yourselfup for success, then?
One of the number one things Ido is first of all, in today's
world, we all have an.
We all have a mobile phone ofsome sort.
In particular, a lot of peoplehave iPhones.
Share your location with atrusted friend or family member.

(44:18):
It's just so easy to do, andwhy not right?
Number two always have a colorcopy of your passport, in two
ways.
One and I don't know why, butembassies seem to like color
copies more than just black andwhite have it digital on your
phone.
Send it to yourself so that youcan access it anywhere, at any

(44:39):
time, on any computer.
Have a digital, have a colorcopy and put it in a Ziploc bag,
so if your bag gets wet youstill have this, or if your
stuff gets stolen.

Speaker 1 (44:50):
So a hard copy and a digital copy.

Speaker 4 (44:52):
Thank you.
Yes, a hard copy and a digitalcopy, all right, and then next
always know where the embassiesare in the countries that you're
going to.
It sounds silly, but it canreally pay off, because I was in
a situation once where I losteverything.
I lost every single thing.
All I had was this hidden Amexcard, but the closest Amex

(45:15):
office where I could have gottencash was over 1,000 miles away.
Holy smokes, yeah.
So it's like how am I going toget there Amex office where I
could have gotten.

Speaker 5 (45:19):
Cash was over a thousand miles away, yeah.

Speaker 4 (45:20):
So it's like how am I gonna get there?
I ended up borrowing money toget there, to get a long story,
everything worked out, but knowwhere that embassy is because,
quite frankly, you're gonna haveto get there if you've lost
your passport.
It's just no and it just again.
You're setting yourself up forsuccess.
Um, always, always, always,carry your medicines.

(45:42):
But, like with thailand, makesure you're not carrying
narcotics.
You just don't want to bringnarcotics into a lot of
countries, but carry the stuffthat you know works.
If you know one aspirin typeworks better than another, carry
it have, you're not going tofind it.
For example, I was deep, deep,deep into the Amazon like not

(46:04):
getting out if you don't have aboat kind of place and I got
really, really ill.
But in my little travel case Ihad exactly what I needed and it
was.
And you can ask your doctor fora couple of refills for travel
prescriptions to take with youand boom, I was better because I
had it really accessible.

(46:24):
You just want to be prepared.
If you over-prepare, you'repossibly going to enjoy a little
bit more.

Speaker 1 (46:31):
Well, and just to that point, finland.
So we were just in Finland andI got some kind of a little bug
on the airplane, as can happen.
And so we got there and Ithought, boy, I could really use
some NyQuil, because we have toteach a whole week with
teenagers and I've got to getsome sleep.
You're not going to find NyQuilanywhere in Europe, pretty much

(46:52):
Right.
And so we go to the OpDec andwe're like, hey, we're looking
for, for something, this thingNyQuil.
They look it up and they findall the drugs in it.
And we spent right at 200American dollars to get the
drugs, yeah, that are in NyQuil,when, if I have my each symptom
that NyQuil covers yeah right,little nighttime sleeping season

(47:14):
copy making stuffy head so youcan rest.

Speaker 4 (47:16):
yes, yes, exactly yes , take a rest.

Speaker 1 (47:18):
See, precisely so, even in like first world, like
Finland, wow, yeah, take whatyou need.

Speaker 4 (47:25):
Yeah, take what you need.
And I think, in terms of mynumber one thing is pack your
wits and trust your gut.
We are all animals.
We were given this instinct,this gut instinct, for a reason,
so use it.
If you don't know where you'regoing like you're walking from

(47:47):
point a to point b in paris ifyou don't know where you're
going, pull over.
Go into a supermarket, like,get your bearings of where you
are.
Don't just be walking around onyour phone like aimlessly, like
hey, look at me, I don't know,I'm a lost person.
Um, ask older women.
Trust me, older women knoweverything going on in town and

(48:07):
they generally know wherethey're going, right?
that's awesome or if you aregonna look at your phone,
pretend you're just checkingemail.
It's all about your stance.
But be cognizant and be aware.
And this is not a proven safetytactic, but I will tell you if
I think I'm not in a safe area.
I look every person in the eyeand I'm like how you doing.

Speaker 1 (48:31):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (48:31):
How you doing.
How you doing can be really.
It's not like, hey, how youdoing, it's like how you doing,
it's that New York, how youdoing?
Yeah, how you doing.
It's really intimidating.
And if you think there's a guyfollowing you or two guys, I
turn around, I look at them, Iestablish that I know exactly
what they look and then Iphysically part them.
I just whip around and go rightback and they're so aghast

(48:56):
because they're now the chasedand I'm chasing them and it
throws them off for game and,quite frankly, they just don't
need the hard target, they wantthe easy target exactly right
and so really own your space,whether you're traveling in a
group or anything, and turnaround and you know, be able to
identify them and intimidatethem.

Speaker 1 (49:17):
Yeah, that it's a crazy example, but I got stops.
I have been stopped so manytimes in department stores and
people say excuse me, can youhelp me?
I'm looking for yeah, I don'twork here.
Oh, you were walking around soconfidently like you.
It's the same thing, Right,You're feeling uncomfortable,
You're in a place you don't know.
Walk around confidently.

Speaker 4 (49:39):
Yep, walk from lost point a to lost point b
confidently, get your bearingsand go from there to the next
point.

Speaker 2 (49:45):
It's all in the comp, it's all in the stride boy,
that's a big difference the waypeople treat you yes, yes,
absolutely all right, you havedone a show and are doing a show
about solo travel, but you alsohave another show.
I do it's super fun.

Speaker 5 (50:03):
Thank you.

Speaker 2 (50:03):
So we have eat, drink , play and stay.

Speaker 4 (50:08):
That's right, because what do you do when you travel?
You eat, drink, play and stay.
Yes, so I've created the show.
I'm currently in talks withsome people in asia to do a
couple episodes over there,maybe a full season.
I started it off actually I wasinspired by triple a, believe

(50:29):
it or not.
Um, they have a thing calledday trips.
It's in their westways magazineI used to.

Speaker 2 (50:35):
We are hoping to have them on our episode at some
point, because they Because theyare a goldmine.

Speaker 4 (50:41):
They are.
We talked about goldmines today.
They're a goldmine ofinformation.
Yes.
And so I was inspired by theirday trips and I originally
created a whole season based offCalifornia and then I realized,
wait, this is a fabulous travelformat and then I can expand it
into other territories, othercountries, and it really goes

(51:05):
into the niche neighborhoods andlooks so for season one,
believe it or not, or episodeone and two.
We go to Norco, california, andEl Segundo, california and most
people look at me and havenever been to either and El
Segundo is literally LAX.
People are oh that's where.
LAX is yes yes but I'm tellingyou they have a brewery to it,

(51:28):
then the airport there is.
In fact it was like the hotspotin the 1900s.
I mean, women from downtown LAwould take an electric car.
It was the women's car clubelectric women's car club.
They go from downtown to elsegundo have tea and go back to
la in like 1907 or 1915,somewhere like that, and it was

(51:52):
eventually chevron moved in.
I believe it's either chevronor exxon and they're a big oil
place.
But I actually talked to a guywho would get on his parents'
wagon with horses and go fromlike Culver City area in their
wagon and go work the day in ElSegundo and back.
There's deep history there andthere's one of the best car

(52:15):
museums I've ever seen in theworld and so if you check out
the episode it's streaming onYouTube right now you can see
these two really incredibleplaces that are just a hop skip
and a jump from downtown LA.

Speaker 1 (52:27):
Wow Got a layover in LAX, a long layover.

Speaker 4 (52:30):
That's right.
Head on over to El Segundo.
They've got breweries there.

Speaker 2 (52:35):
And an ice cream parlor in the car area.

Speaker 4 (52:39):
In car area in the car museum.

Speaker 2 (52:41):
Yeah, the zimmerman automobile car museum, that's
too cool so yeah, it's reallyneat okay you have in your solo
travel.
Show me myself in the world youdo packing with pamela.
Yes, If you were only able topack three things if you had to

(53:02):
narrow it down to three things.
What would you like?

Speaker 4 (53:06):
Are we talking three beauty items or three clothing
items?

Speaker 2 (53:10):
Yeah, come on, you only get three things.

Speaker 4 (53:11):
Well, I can tell you oh God, mascara, mascara Number
one, lipstick and a bathing suit.
Okay, okay, bathing suit coversit all and you can use lipstick
as eyeshadow blush, andlipstick can't go without
mascara and a bathing suit.
You know you're gonna have fun.

(53:33):
All right, can I have four?
I'll take a poncho?

Speaker 5 (53:37):
Oh my gosh, that would be fun.

Speaker 1 (53:46):
Totally unexpected answer there.

Speaker 4 (53:48):
It's just coming straight from the heart yeah, I
like it.
And the ego, right yeah.

Speaker 2 (53:54):
All right, tell us one of your funniest travel
stories.

Speaker 4 (53:58):
Oh my gosh, there's so many.
Um, I have two stories for you.
Okay, the first one is one ofthe funny.
I'll tell you a funny story anda life-changing story.
So one of the funniest storiesis actually took place when I
was about 19, living in japan.
Um and I was at a homestay andthe little boy didn't speak any

(54:21):
English, but he was learningEnglish in school.
They learn it from a small ageand he didn't know enough
English verbally to speak inactual words and I didn't know
at the time.
I didn't know Japanese to speakin actual words.
So I asked him to imitateEnglish.
Like what does an americansound like to you?

(54:41):
Like, not only does he have itdown pat, but he has to get up.
And he gets up and he lookslike john wayne.
He just moves into the johnwayne stance and he's like and
he's got this, like he's holdingtwo gunslinging things and I'm

(55:02):
dying with laughter over thiswhole thing.
And then I realize, like one,he sounds like the people on the
other side of the phone withSnoopy.
The wah, wah, wah or CharlieBrown's teacher, exactly,
exactly, or his mom, lucy's mom.
And two, he looks exactly likeJohn Wayne.
I'm like where did this kid getthis?

(55:22):
And it's just so funny.
And then I did the same for himand look like some samurai,
like about to like hack somebodyor like, oh, like.
I was sort of like the comicalJapanese person and we still
laugh about it today.
It's just so funny how othercultures receive other cultures

(55:48):
and how fun it can really be ifwe imitate each other.

Speaker 1 (55:52):
Yeah, and laugh about it.

Speaker 4 (55:53):
Absolutely Laugh about it, because kids can laugh
about it.
It's funny.
It's funny.
I don't think I've ever laughedharder in my life than when he
imitated an american.
It was great.
And he was trad, wayne andsnoopy awesome.
Yeah, I will tell you, the mostlife-changing moment was um kind

(56:14):
of happened twice.
Once was I went to africa and Iwas meeting my boyfriend there
at my boyfriend at the time andhe's like okay, no jewelry.
And I was like okay.
And then, like right before Iget on the plane, he calls me.
He's like so, no jewelry, right?
I was like well, yeah, but likeoh, I just have these little.

(56:34):
And he goes no, no, no jewelry.
Not where're going?
I'm telling you, no jewelry.
And I'm like oh.
And I got on the plane and Irealized I was stripped of my
clothes, I was stripped of myjewelry, I was stripped of all
these things that we identifyourselves with, that we show up
to a new connection orrelationship with.

(56:58):
That tells this person all sortsof things about us the clothes
we choose, the jewelry we choose, how we wear our hair, all
these small things that fit intoour conversation.
And I also did this when I wentto Peru and suddenly I realized
that people I met met me andconnected with me and liked me

(57:22):
just for me.
They didn't know what clothes Iowned or didn't.
They didn't know they didn'tsee identify me by my jewelry,
by my car, by my what school Iwent to nothing, what job I had.
It was just me and that was anunbelievably liberating moment

(57:42):
in my life and I then realized Iwas meeting other travelers,
other solo travelers in all ofthese countries, just sitting
around campfires, meeting eachother at hostels, meeting each
other at cafes.
We didn't know who we were,where we we came from, where we
were going.
We just knew we were going tobe friends then and some of them

(58:03):
have stayed friends andstripping ourselves of all those
identifying things, thatbaggage we were talking about.

Speaker 2 (58:12):
Baggage it was unbelievably liberating.

Speaker 1 (58:15):
Yeah, because we think that's who we are.
That's right, it's not no.

Speaker 4 (58:19):
This is who we are.
This's who we are.
That's right, it's not no thisis who we are this is who we are
that's right, yes, our heart of, yes, our heart, our soul yeah,
that's who we are I know it'slike a huggable moment oh good,
virtual, I want to go back toJapan.

Speaker 2 (58:40):
Okay, you talked about your funny story in Japan.
So we have a podcast.
We have a couple podcastepisodes where we interviewed,
because we haven't been thereyet Yet, yeah, but we find that
a lot of our Finnish friends goto Finland, our Finnish friends
go to Japan, and so we were likewhat is, why are all these

(59:04):
Finnish people going to.
Japan, like why you know, and sowe we have.
We have a couple episodes.
We'll put those in the shownotes along with all Pamela's
links to all her things, so youcan find her we talked about,
like you know, it's sointeresting.
We go with our expectation likeif, as we're americans, we come

(59:24):
to each country as an americanright, they're coming to japan
as fins and so it's just kind offun to get like the different
perspective of how they seejapan how did?
they experience it.
So you, as an american, whatwere some of the things that
were really great about Japan,and or those who are going to be
traveling to Japan, what kindof pointers or insights would

(59:48):
you have to share?

Speaker 4 (59:49):
Yes, great question, and it's multifaceted.
For one, japan in 2024 waslisted as, I believe, the top
country in the world.
I think it was Travel andLeisure named it as the top
country in the world to travelto.
Wow, and there rightfully.
So I mean, japan has got itgoing on.

Speaker 1 (01:00:09):
We've only heard good things from everyone who's been
there.

Speaker 4 (01:00:11):
Yeah, yeah, it is an incredible place.
I mean when I was there, when Iwas there in the 80s and 90s,
it was already incredible andit's just expanded upon that One
.
It's very, very easy to getaround.
It's very safe to get around.
You have the entiremetropolitan Tokyo train, the

(01:00:34):
whole inner working.
It is so easy to navigate andthere's always professional
people working in the trainstations, whether it's to double
check before the train doorsclose, whatever it is.
They just are so organized,great safety features and easy
to navigate.
So that's number one.

(01:00:55):
Two, the people are sowelcoming.
Like I said, most everybodyspeaks English.
They're a really fun cultureand, of course, they are so deep
rooted in their culture.
It's been such an old culture.
Obviously, chinese is a littlebit older, but the Japanese

(01:01:18):
culture is so pure and clear,from their food to their
entertainment, their traditions.
It's really unique.
For me it was different becauseI grew up in Hawaii and so going
, quite honestly, from me goingto Japan, I was like I'm at home
with a little bit, a little bitmore of the Japanese culture,

(01:01:41):
but I grew up with that.
So nothing was different.
The smells weren't different,the food wasn't different, the
traditions and, more importantly, um, the cultural norms were
already built into me, so thatwasn't different.
I understood the hierarchy thatI should uh, so that wasn't
different.
I understood the hierarchy thatI should adhere to in terms of

(01:02:02):
bowing, in terms of greetingpeople and greeting them in the
order that you know.
If you're elder, meeting anelder.
We don't really do that as muchanymore in the American culture
, but I was already familiarwith it, so it worked well, it
was very easy and it worked wellfor me.
Um, the couple fun things like,besides the navigation of the

(01:02:23):
trains, which are so easy tonavigate and you can take the
shinkansen, which is the bullettrain, all over japan and going
up to hokkaido, which is thenorthern island, it's the skiing
up there is incredible, likesnow skiing, snow skiing.
They have incredible resorts upthere.
Um, every nara, which is areally unique place.

(01:02:45):
Closer down south you haveyukota.
It's so many incredible placesto discover in japan.
Obviously, sapporo beer is upin hokkaido.
There is something for everyoneand it's a huge place for
foodies.
Something that people may notrealize is that Japan often
people go to meals alone.

(01:03:05):
So Japanese restaurants havenow kind of changed their menu
and their seating to be moresingle solo diner friendly.
So if you're a solo traveler,japan's a great place to really
jump into the foodie scene, notonly because it's built into the
culture, but also you know, youthink of all the sushi bars.

(01:03:26):
You get to really take time totake in those flavors You're not
busy talking the whole meal andexperience that.
And of course, talk to yourneighbor if you want to.
And then for another little tipfor travelers heading to japan
is remember we put all of ourrestaurants, quite frankly, at
europe and america we put it onthe ground floor.

(01:03:47):
Um tokyo in particular, they'reall high rise.
So look at, like the fifth tothe tenth floor.
That's where all of your barsand your restaurants are going
to be.
So when you walk up, look upand you'll see all the names of
all the restaurants, on whateverlevel they're on and we don't
think to look for restaurants upthere you're like right, you

(01:04:07):
know there's nothing to eat inthis town, yeah, look up.
So yeah, and you had uh, youhave uh a podcast right about
japan yes, you, yes, right, yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:04:20):
So we'll put that in the show notes.
Perfect.

Speaker 1 (01:04:22):
Yeah, it's sort of a second person podcast.

Speaker 4 (01:04:26):
Yeah, that's great, but Japan is number one this
year.

Speaker 2 (01:04:29):
So you talked about, with solo travel, to start small
, yes, and you talked about howHawaii kind of prepped you for
that.
So maybe if you want to go toJapan, you could start by going
to Hawaii.
Like, if you want to startsmall, go first to Hawaii and
then to Japan, yeah, because youmight get a little bit of those

(01:04:50):
flavors and different thingsintroduced.
You lived in Hawaii, so tell usmaybe some highlights and tips
for Hawaii.

Speaker 4 (01:04:58):
Hawaii is amazing.
Of course it was the tips forHawaii.
Hawaii is amazing.
Of course it was the kingdom ofHawaii and it is a truly
magical, special place, they say.
People typically, I think, liveseven years longer, those who
live in Hawaii.
It's the volcanic, maybe theelectrons in the air from the
volcanoes.
It's a special place, obviously, perhaps Pele and you lived in

(01:05:20):
Oahu.
I lived on the air from thevolcanoes.
It's a special place, obviously, perhaps Pele.

Speaker 2 (01:05:21):
And you lived in Oahu .

Speaker 4 (01:05:23):
I lived on the island of Oahu, which, for a lot of
people, what we'll say is theisland of Oahu, where Honolulu
is the capital, that's the maincity, or the beach of Waikiki.
That's all Oahu.
If you go in February, you willsee a very large contingent of
Japanese tourists.
That's their big season,february, and secondarily August

(01:05:46):
.
So if you want a little entreeinto Asia, go in February and
you'll get both the Hawaiianculture and the Japanese culture
.
One of my favorite times to goto Oahu in particular is in
September.
You have King Kamehameha Day,you have the big parade, all the
students and families are gone,the beach and the waters are

(01:06:07):
clear.
It is the best weather.
I think September is the besttime to go for the whole year
and really dive into the culture, the Hawaiian culture, eat the
food, try the food andexperience all the cultures that
now make up Hawaii, which is somuch of Micronesia, the
Polynesian cultures, and perhapsgo to the Polynesian Cultural

(01:06:30):
Center which is on the far sideof Oahu.
Go over to the North Shore,because I think really
experiencing the food and theculture and the language from
that makeup Hawaii now is reallyimportant.
And, of course, one of the bestplaces go to the seat of the
Hawaiian kingdom, which is thepalace and the Bishop Museum,

(01:06:52):
which is just right downtown inHonolulu.
Those are not not to be missed.
And something new that a lot ofpeople don't know is, they've
all heard of Hanauma Bay, whichis Hanauma Bay, queens Bay.
You now have to havereservations and generally like
a couple months in advance andpeople don't know that.

Speaker 2 (01:07:09):
So you don't want to make this a last minute trip.

Speaker 4 (01:07:11):
If you go there, no, if you're going there and if you
can have a cocktail or a buffetmeal, or even the hula show at
the Royal Hawaiian, which is theoldest hotel.
In fact, their 100-yearanniversary is coming up, I
think in 2026 or 2027.
Or 2025, it's not to be missed.

Speaker 1 (01:07:31):
Oh, that would be a very cool place to stay.

Speaker 2 (01:07:33):
Southwest flies to Hawaii, and so that makes it
much easier and much moretangible.
But you also have an insight,right.

Speaker 4 (01:07:43):
Yeah, so this week, as of recording this, hawaiian
and Alaska are merging and thatis huge and we are at the late
end of 2024 right now, whenwe're recording this.
So you've got two bigconglomerates.
Now Hawaiian is linked to JapanAirlines.
You've got Alaska Airlines.
You've just opened upconglomerates.
Now Hawaiian is linked to JapanAirlines.
You've got Alaska Airlines.
You've just opened up the wholeWest Coast and then

(01:08:04):
subsequently into Asia.
So if you have Alaska points oryou have Hawaiian points I
don't know, I've heard that thepoints might be one-to-one, but
it's a huge bonus.
So you're opening a whole newopportunity to really see the
Hawaiian Islands, see Asia, thewhole West Coast with Alaska
Airlines and, quite frankly,they're amazing.

(01:08:27):
They are amazing.
I've been with another airlinefor the last literally 30 years
and this year I started flyingAlaska for a couple trips and
I'm like what?
What have I been doing?
This is amazing.
Literally, you walk on andthey're like what, what have I
been doing?
This is amazing.
Literally you walk on andthey're like hi, so great to
have you.
And you're like wait, what it's?
It's night and day.

(01:08:48):
I, I'm, literally, I'm.
I was blown away.
My sister and I thought it wasa joke at first, and then we did
it, yeah, and then now I'vebeen on like five flights and
literally they're like it.
It made it made travelenjoyable again.
That's how they treat you right?
Your vacation starts when youget to the airport and check in.

Speaker 1 (01:09:11):
It used to be that way, right?

Speaker 4 (01:09:12):
yes, oh my, I mean, it's night and day and I don't
work for them.

Speaker 5 (01:09:16):
I've never worked for them, but I'm telling you it
was amazing.

Speaker 4 (01:09:20):
So we get to fly them this is huge yeah, we've.

Speaker 2 (01:09:23):
We've had like a couple flights and they were
fine you know, I mean they Ididn't have any issues or
problems, or I don't knowthey're homegrown and they've
stuck that way.

Speaker 4 (01:09:33):
They, they, they know who butters their bread and
it's the people and they'regonna stick that way.
I don't speak for them, butthat was my take.
That's what I'm believing.
Well, I talked to people.
I was like gosh, why are youguys so nice?
And they're like because ourpresident's nice, our CEO's nice
.
And our bosses are nice.

Speaker 1 (01:09:53):
They cast the vision and we walk it out Exactly.

Speaker 4 (01:09:55):
Exactly, they're respected and they're listened
to.
Oh my gosh, I spoke to thisoperator and she was just so
nice and she was talking and shelived up in Oregon and I was
like, wow, you're like a reallyhappy person and she goes.
Well, I got a hug from the CEOI was like CEOs like that just
walked up and hugged her andthanked her for her service and

(01:10:16):
that meant the world to thiswoman and she goes well, well
I'm just giving you a hugthrough the phone and I don't
know why I'm talking with asouthern accent, but she had one
and I was like, wow, that'slike they're, that's who they
are yeah, so, yeah, that's great

Speaker 2 (01:10:29):
so now now you can use your miles to get that's
right yeah yep, it's like pan amall over where it's enjoyable
travel.
Yes, thank you.

Speaker 4 (01:10:39):
Any other final closing thoughts or yeah, you
know, make your bucket list.
You live for the present andtravel with joy.
That's sort of my closingthought.
I truly believe travel changeslives.

Speaker 1 (01:11:00):
Yes.

Speaker 4 (01:11:00):
I agree and go out there and get it.

Speaker 2 (01:11:03):
yeah, I love it that's why we're all here.
Well, thank you so much, pamela.
It has been so fun talking withyou yes oh um.
You're gonna find her at yes,pamela holtcom.

Speaker 4 (01:11:15):
Um, pamela hololtcom, pamelaholtcom, you're going to
find her at PamelaHoltcom.
And on socials, atThePamelaHolt, on Instagram,
twitter, facebook, you name it.
So y'all get on there andfollow her.

Speaker 2 (01:11:31):
All that will be in the show notes.

Speaker 4 (01:11:32):
And me myself and the world.
The Art of Solo Travel is onAmazon Prime, GoTraveler, my
home and Tubi and a lot ofdifferent platforms so you can
actually stream it for free onGoTraveler and if you have
Amazon Prime, you can streamseason one and two.

Speaker 1 (01:11:49):
Yeah well, congratulations, that's awesome,
Thank you, looking forward tothe next one.
Thank you, Americana baby.

Speaker 2 (01:11:58):
Okay, y'all, it is time for our trivia.
We have been doing this allyear, and so we have to wrap up
the year with these world triviaquestions, all right?
So, pamela, you get to be theproud answerer of said questions
.
All right, hopefully, I get oneright to be the proud answerer
of said questions.
All right.
Hopefully I get one right.
I bet you'll get at least oneright, okay.

(01:12:19):
First question which waterfallcan be found on the USA slash
Canada border?
Niagara, niagara Falls, woo-hoo, good job, good job, look, easy
peasy.
Okay, so you can get all therest wrong because you already
got your one right, okay.
Which US state is the movieFargo set in?

Speaker 5 (01:12:42):
Fargo, South Dakota.

Speaker 2 (01:12:44):
That's what I would.
Yes, nope, minnesota, yes,thank god.
Now that one is tricky.
You did good, all right,because Minnesota was coming out
of your mouth.
Okay, all right.
Which US state is the TV showBreaking Bad set in?

Speaker 5 (01:13:06):
I've never seen the show, but I think it's Nevada.
In my head it had something todo with Las Vegas, or some drug
running or something.

Speaker 2 (01:13:15):
Right, you are geographically close.
It is where I was born, newMexico.
New Mexico yes, that's rightNow.
I haven't seen the show either.
Everyone in the world says it'sso great and that it's such a
great show, rory, and I havenever watched it.
But everybody has told me youhave to watch because it's great

(01:13:38):
writing blah, blah blah, butalso because it's filmed in
Albuquerque, which is where Igrew up, and so that's what I
know.
That one, but New Mexico, NewMexico, thank you.
Okay, which next one?
Which country does?

Speaker 5 (01:13:56):
Which country does Biltong originate from Biltong?

Speaker 2 (01:14:06):
The Philippines Biltong, biltong.

Speaker 5 (01:14:11):
I've never, even heard of that.
Is it a food I have not.
I think it's a idea.
Is it the?

Speaker 2 (01:14:16):
Philippines or Malaysia.
The answer is South Africa.
Which country does Biltongoriginate from?
That's why I'm like am Ireading this?
I have never heard.
I don't even know what that is.
We're gonna look look upbiltong folks.
Okay, hold on Chat.
G-b-t, b-i-l-t-o-n-g.

Speaker 5 (01:14:45):
Hey Chatty, can you give us the background on?

Speaker 2 (01:14:47):
biltong, which is from South Africa.
Hey there, sure thing.
Biltong is a traditional SouthAfrican snack made from dried,
cured meat usually beef, butgame.

Speaker 4 (01:14:57):
meats like ostrich or kudu are also used.
Oh yeah, thank you.
Alright, of course I actuallyhave had biltong, now that I
think about it, when I was inSouth Africa.

Speaker 2 (01:15:05):
Yes, and it was kudu biltong.
Okay, basically it's beef jerky, okay, great.
Well, since I'm'm vegetarian, Ihave no clue.
So there you go.
Okay, you good for two more.
Yeah, absolutely, I love trivia.
Great, all right.
From which country does thekebab originate?

(01:15:26):
So we're staying on this meattheme?
Now, these were just randomlychosen.
Which country does the kebaboriginate?
From which country?

Speaker 5 (01:15:35):
I want to randomly say Morocco.

Speaker 2 (01:15:38):
You are not far from the answer.
You are not geographically farfrom the answer Algeria, no,
okay, so it is okay.
Here's a clue.
We just had this holiday andthe country is the name of a
poultry that you might eatduring the holiday we just had.

(01:16:01):
We just had Thanksgiving.

Speaker 4 (01:16:06):
Yes, so what do you know?
We had turkey, thank you.

Speaker 5 (01:16:10):
The cup of hub is from Turkey.
If you don't know it, at leastyou can learn it.

Speaker 2 (01:16:15):
I'm going to know that.
I'm going to tell that everyThanksgiving.
Now I love it, Okay.
Last one Okay, I have no ideaabout this one.
All right, by the way.

Speaker 4 (01:16:28):
I love that I just talked through that answer with
you like I was on that TV showwhere you get to phone a friend.

Speaker 2 (01:16:35):
Right, right, yeah, I love that.
That's great, all right, arounda thousand statues called Moai
M-O-A-I this is a in parenthesescreated by the early Rapa Nui
people, by the early Rapa Nuipeople can be found on which

(01:17:02):
island?
Easter Island.
How do you know that?
That's right, that's Rapa Nui.
Oh right, of course.
Okay, this is only you be ableto answer this, because you are
the genius, you are the mastertravel genius.

Speaker 4 (01:17:12):
Well, I think I got what?
Two or three out of six.

Speaker 2 (01:17:17):
You did great.
No, you got like four out ofsix.
Not that we're counting.

Speaker 5 (01:17:22):
I've now learned about the kebabs from Turkey.
That's a random one, andbiltong.

Speaker 2 (01:17:26):
Is that what it's called?
I still don't remember whatit's called Biltong, biltong,
it's beef jerky.

Speaker 4 (01:17:33):
It's these big pieces of beef jerky and the thing is
I've eaten it when you said it,but a lot of the Filipinos would
eat Biltong on when I worked onshows.

Speaker 5 (01:17:44):
Well, there you go.

Speaker 2 (01:17:44):
That's why, in my head, I thought the first thing
I thought of Filipinos yeah, butit is.
It's South Africa.
Well, there you go.
Amazing.
Do you want a bonus?
Question you want a bonusquestion.

Speaker 5 (01:17:55):
I do because I love him so much.

Speaker 2 (01:17:57):
Okay, you are so lucky because I happen to have
the box right here.
I would have had to gone to theother room, is that okay?
Okay, so, just like all theothers, we just randomly choose
here.
Pick a card, pick a card.
That one choose here.

(01:18:19):
Pick a card, pick a card.
Now, there's two per card.
Do you want both or just one?
All right, I see I wouldn'tknow any of these.
This is why I'm asking you Idon't know.
Okay, ready, the 2008 movieRambo is set in which country.

Speaker 4 (01:18:37):
Oh, 2000.wait the original Rambo.
The 2008 movie.
I think it's in Cambodia orVietnam.

Speaker 2 (01:18:43):
Close.

Speaker 5 (01:18:45):
What is it?

Speaker 2 (01:18:46):
Burma.

Speaker 4 (01:18:48):
Burma Is that but I think they filmed it in Thailand
.

Speaker 5 (01:18:52):
I don't think they filmed it, you're right, there's
a different machine where theyI have to go look it up Burma.

Speaker 2 (01:18:57):
What were they doing in Burma?
I don't know, I haven't seen it, I guess.

Speaker 5 (01:19:03):
Rambo would have been in, like Vietnam or something.

Speaker 2 (01:19:05):
See, I'm telling you I wouldn't have got that one.
Okay, here's your bonusquestion the opening scene.
This is all about movies.
The opening scene of LoveActually was filmed at which
airport?

Speaker 4 (01:19:18):
Heathrow and it's my favorite movie ever, and
actually this week on my socialmedia we're doing set jetting to
Love Actually because it's thebest movie ever in the world.

Speaker 2 (01:19:33):
There you go I love it so much.

Speaker 5 (01:19:36):
You are so great.
Perfect ending question.

Speaker 2 (01:19:39):
Well, so people now need to watch your set.
Jetting yes.

Speaker 5 (01:19:44):
You can set jet to Love Actually.
We'll show you all the placesthat they filmed.
There's a little bit in Italy,but mostly England love it.

Speaker 2 (01:19:54):
Well, you go, girl.
Well, it's like you fed thatquestion to me to feed to you,
but you didn't.
We randomly drew that amazingwell Pamela's travel my life yes
, well, you are amazing, you area genius.
Thank you so much for inspiringus on this episode and thank
you for sharing your Christmasseason with us, and we really

(01:20:16):
appreciate you and look forwardto continue to continuing to
follow you on Instagram and onyour travel shows, and we are
super excited to just get toknow you better and we look
forward to seeing more of you weare all part of the traveling
community, yay.
Thanks again, pamela and y'all.

(01:20:36):
I just want to quickly remindyou please hop over to our show
notes and help support us byshopping for some fun travel
essentials with some of ouraffiliate links that we are
going to be mentioning in theshow notes, especially Clean
Canteen, yuko Gear, fermu.
Check those out Again.
It's no additional cost to you.
The pricing isn't higher if youuse our link, so there's no

(01:20:57):
additional cost to you.
It just helps support us on theback end, so we really
appreciate you checking that out.
So y'all, thank you so much forjoining us.
We want to wish you a veryMerry Christmas.
Happy Hanukkah.
Happy New Year's Eve.
Happy Christmasukkah.
Happy New Year's Eve.
Happy Christmas Eve, happy NewYear's.
We hope you have a wonderfulholiday season, a wonderful

(01:21:19):
winter and a wonderful December.

Speaker 4 (01:21:22):
Oh my gosh, you're like goodbye makes me want to
sing a Christmas song.

Speaker 5 (01:21:28):
Can we do Jingle Bells?

Speaker 4 (01:21:29):
I know Jingle Bells.
Yeah, let's do it.

Speaker 5 (01:21:32):
You ready?
A five got Jingle Bells.

Speaker 4 (01:21:32):
Yeah, let's do it.
We're all close to this.
Okay, let me come up.
You ready.

Speaker 5 (01:21:35):
Yep.

Speaker 4 (01:21:35):
A five, six, seven okay.

Speaker 5 (01:21:37):
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.
Oh, what fun it is to ride in aone-horse open sleigh.
Jingle bells, jingle bells,jingle all the way.
Oh, what fun it is to ride in aone-horse open sleigh.

Speaker 4 (01:22:02):
Woo, merry Christmas, merry Christmas everyone Merry
Christmas.

Speaker 2 (01:22:07):
We hope we've inspired you this episode, so
join us next time.
Please subscribe to rate andshare our podcast with your
friends or you know whomever?
And please like and follow uson Instagram, youtube and
Facebook.

Speaker 1 (01:22:18):
We are also on X and on all social platforms.
We are at TheRomies, that'sT-H-E-R-O-A-M-I-E-S, and our
main hub is our website.

Speaker 2 (01:22:29):
At wwwtheromiescom, that's right, that's.
D-h-e-r-o-a-m-i-e-scom.
We'll be there until next time.
Yeah, thanks for listening, bye.