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Rob and Polly Summerhayes are two Travellerspoint members about to embark on a cross-continental bike trip from South Africa to Wales.

After spending the last two years working in South Africa - Rob worked in a local hospital and Polly volunteered for a charity supporting vulnerable children - the couple have decided to cycle home and raise money for charity while they're at it.

As they're about to set off on their trip, I thought I would ask them a few questions about the inspiration behind their bike trip and their experiences in South Africa over the past couple years.

Whose idea was it to do this bike trip?

Rob took the job in Mseleni hospital that a friend of ours, Ian Burnell, was due to do. Ian died just before he would have come out here. When we were making our preparations we were not at all surprised but slightly amused to find Ian had only a one-way flight and we spent some time musing over how he would have got home (he had in the past hitchhiked across Eastern Europe to Moldova).

Eventually this led to musing over how we would get home. Rob, being rather fond of our little red Suzuki4x4 wanted to drive that home. Polly thought that was a rubbish idea, suggesting instead cycling. Rob thought that was a rubbish idea but eventually he came around.

Have either of you been on big bike trips before?

No, well it depends how you define big; we cycled from South to North Wales once – think that’s about the furthest!

How long do you expect the trip to take?

We’ve allowed 8 months pedaling 5 days a week for the whole distance and we are also stopping off for 3 months in Rwanda where Rob is going to work in a rural hospital. So we should be home in just under a year.

You've lived in South Africa for the past two years. How has your time in South Africa impacted your lives?

Rob: As a Dr trained in the UK, working in Rural SA has been quite a challenge. I rapidly had to learn how to do a Caesarian Section, general anesthetic, manage trauma and AIDS – none of which I had seen before. Frequently I have to work out of my Comfort Zone which has the potential to be very stressful. However I quickly realized that a reliance on a relationship with God could keep me going and keep me sane! I have come to relish this feeling of having a new and exciting challenge everyday rather than the nice controlled lives we lead back home. When things are out of our immediate control we see the real need for God – which is why I think so many Africans have such amazing spiritual lives whereas we Westerners have money and insurance policies instead!

Pol: I’ve been struck by the friendliness and generosity of the local population. There is very little bitterness towards white people in this area – despite the terrible things that have happened in the recent past.

It seems that the poorer people are, the more generous and thankful they are for what they have. The other day I ran over a chicken. I went and found the owner to apologize and give her the scrawny dead bird. She was thrilled:

“Nkosi Yami, Nkosi Yami. Ngiyabonga, Ngiyabonga!”

“My God, My God. Thank you, Thank you!” She exclaimed holding her hands heavenward.

Initially I thought it must be someone else’s chicken & she thought I was giving her a gift – but no it was her bird – she was thrilled because road kill is usually taken by the driver!

I’ve also learnt that helping is a two way street. You can’t just go somewhere “to help” people. You must go to “help and be helped”. People from all walks of life have so much to offer and living in community helping one another is what’s important.

Had either of you spent much time living overseas before you moved to South Africa?

We had very little experience of Africa but Rob spent some time traveling and working in a Leprosy hospital in Nepal before we were married.

I was amazed to read in your interview on Canton's Community Website that Zululand has the highest concentration of HIV sufferers in the world. What are some of the major factors contributing to the HIV/AIDS problem in South Africa?

The answer to that question is very complicated indeed. Lots of people have written books on it.

Things that have struck us are HIV could have been handled much better in South Africa, which is a very wealthy country, but with massive inequality. For a long time the government were in denial which to an extent is still a problem.
There are also cultural and educational issues which fuel the epidemic. 30 years ago the status/wealth of a Zulu man was defined by the number of wives and cows he had. Now days it is generally frowned upon if you have more than one wife (unless you are Jacob Zuma!) - however it is extremely common to have many lovers and condoms are seldom used as most young ladies want kids.

However there is hope. The government and communities are starting to tackle many difficult issues. Antiretrovirals are now widely available in SA and work amazingly well. It is not unusual for young people to come back from the brink of death, put on 20kg and lead a normal life again.

With this trip you're aiming to raise £25,000, which will go towards buying a 4-wheel drive for a local charity in Zululand and 120 "hippo rollers". For the uninitiated, what is a hippo roller?

The 4x4 will be invaluable for the local charity to access vulnerable (usually orphaned/abused and often HIV+) children in the community.

The Hippo Roller is a device used to roll hippos out of the local lakes to provide communities with a protein rich food source…

Another type of Hippo Roller is a barrel-shaped container that rolls like a wheelbarrow with little effort making it easier for villagers to transport life-giving fresh water to their homes.

These barrels improve access to water for needy households by making it possible to collect 90 litres of water (4 times the amount possible using traditional methods) in less time, with greater ease resulting in better health and more time for other activities – like school!

Women and children bear the brunt of responsibility for collecting water, spending 4-7 hours per day walking, waiting in lines to fill containers, and carrying them home. This prevents many children (especially girls) from attending school and completing even a basic education.

A Hippo Water Roller typically lasts between 5 and 7 years yet some of the originals distributed over 10 yrs ago are still functional. A roller currently costs £55 to manufacture.

The Hippo Roller improves lives instantly. It's an African solution to an African problem.

Hippo Rollers in action.

How can interested people support you?

Check out our blog and spur us on!

There will soon be a Just Giving account that you can donate to as well - we don’t want people to subsidise our adventure. We are simply asking you to give generously to our chosen projects.

Maybe you could give a lump sum of £10 or £20 or sponsor us per km – how about 1p/km? If you don’t think we’ll make it all the way home we dare you to sponsor us 10p/km! (We will pedal an estimated 12,000km).

• **

Check out these past interviews in the Talking Travel series:

• Talking Travel with Michael Johnson
  
• Talking Travel with Izzy and Marisa
  
• Talking Travel with Marlis
  
• Talking Travel with Gretchen
  
• Talking Travel with Andrew and Courtney
  
• Talking Travel with Purdy
  
• Talking Travel with Maria
  
• Talking Travel with Niels
  
• Talking Travel with Amy and Wim
  
• Talking Travel with Hien
  
• Talking Travel and HIV/AIDS in India with Dave Reidy
  
• Talking Travel with Utrecht
  

Next up in the series of interviews with members is Michael Johnson, known around these parts as Lavafalls. Michael's been a Travellerspoint member since January 2008, but in that time he's been a prolific contributor to the wiki travel guide, sharing a wealth of first-hand information about China, his native Chicago and elsewhere. I thought I'd find out a little bit more about his interest in travel, his passion for China and his travel plans for 2009.

Posing in front of the Statue of Liberty.

When did you make your first big solo trip?

Well that is a weird question. Technically it would have been when I was 18 years old. My high school had a deal where if you could put together a community service project you could graduate a month early to do it. So I found a Habitat for Humanity build in a small Maori village on the Bay of Plenty and went for 2 weeks. Afterwards I did a road trip with some of my co-volunteers down the west coast of the South Island.

When I was 22 in the summer of 04 I went to Ecuador with a class. Afterwards I traveled solo for about a week and half. The first really big “solo” trip I did was from Singapore to Hanoi over 7 weeks during my first Chinese New Year in ’06. I called the trip the bird flu tour because everyone was freaking out about it then. I decided just to embrace it.

So you've obviously had an interest in travel for quite a while. What is it about travel that appeals to you?

What is it about travel that interests me? Well since I was small child I was always interested in explorers, I was the kid that always read the picture books on explorers. Learning about new and interesting places always excited me and to this day it does. I think as an adult what interests me in travel is seeing how similar and different places and people can be. I like to go to places that seem out of time and the modern world hasn’t slammed into them too hard. One of my favorite places I have traveled to is Mongolia for this very reason. People still living nomadic lifestyle and in touch with the land that they have traditionally lived on.

At the same time I like to travel in order to flush out my life. It is so easy to get stuck in the routines of life to the point were everything starts to become a formula. There is a certain freedom that comes from being on the road and not knowing where you will be in a few days or only having a rough idea. Personally I believe this is good for me because this reshuffle of my life makes me a lot happier. After a big trip I can re-adjust things in my life because the routine has been broken.

Did you travel much as a kid?

My family did travel a lot. We did a lot of outdoors stuff such as skiing, hiking and camping. Saw lots of national parks and other beautiful places. One really big trip we did was going to Brazil for a bar mitzvah. That was super cool, even though I was only nine I remember it very clearly. Another really cool trip was rafting the Grand Canyon; I think that trip is what really made me love the outdoors.

You've travelled quite a bit around China. What initially attracted you to China?

Well that is a funny story. I have always had a slight interest in China mainly stemming from human rights stuff I did in high school and college. Right before I graduated from college I flipped out, the standard 23 year old way and called my dad. I had originally looked into working in China but decided not to. Well after the call with my dad I decided to give it a second chance, I called and they said I had 24 hours to make up my mind. So I decided and went.

Although I was bit shocked when I arrived. I had never been to a country that didn’t use my alphabet and when I saw all those characters on the board in the Shanghai airport I went “Holy crap! They actually use these things.”

China does have such a unique culture. Did you experience culture shock?

I had some really bad culture shock a few times. After living in China for a about three months there was a period of time when I was not working I was lying in my bed watching DVDs and eating Pringles. That lasted about 3 weeks and I actually came out of it quite quickly after it was over. Although to this day I really can’t eat Pringles because I just ate too many of them.

There were other brief moments. In the expat community in China we use the terms China moment, China Day and the worst of all the China week. And it wasn’t a normal week without the occasional China moment, such as the ladies at the department store really trying to sell you sheets and throwing different ones into your cart. Or when you misunderstand the bus ticket office window, because she said there was an afternoon bus but really there wasn’t but if I was Chinese I would have understood that.

At the same time though most cultures I have noticed have more in common than not. I just feel it is more natural to try and focus on the difference than on the similarities.

Sunset over Qinghai Lake, China.

For people visiting China for the first time, what would you suggest is the one place they must visit?

That is a huge question. Well the easy answer would be Beijing or Yanghsou. I personally feel Shanghai is a bit overrated but maybe living there for a year made me bored of the place. I think the key part behind any China trip is balancing the different aspects of China. China has amazing culture, traditions, natural beauty and weird things. Most people just focus on the culture and traditions and I feel they get burnt out. Some of the most beautiful places I have ever been to have been in China. These beautiful places range from Namsto Lake in Tibet to the mountains outside of the Monastary near Boyan Hot Inner Mongolia.

The strange is the hardest to find, yet the easiest if you are looking the right way. One example is on an overnight bus ride from the border of Mongolia to Beijing. Along the side of the highway were giant bronze statues of dinosaurs for several kilometers. I couldn’t believe my eyes! Other examples are stumbling upon weird markets in random small towns or watching a cop walk out of a pink light barbershop just to adjust his pants.



Do you have any travel plans for 2009?

I am going on a weekend trip to Montreal in April and then maybe a big trip to China this summer. A friend might actually come this time! We are thinking of starting where the Great Wall enters the ocean, then follow it out west camping, hiking and drinking beer the whole time! Then there is a chance I might be going to my best friend’s wedding in a small village in northern Thailand this Christmas. Somehow I am supposed to start grad school this fall.

• **

Check out these past interviews in the Talking Travel series:

• Talking Travel with Izzy and Marisa
  
• Talking Travel with Marlis
  
• Talking Travel with Gretchen
  
• Talking Travel with Andrew and Courtney
  
• Talking Travel with Purdy
  
• Talking Travel with Maria
  
• Talking Travel with Niels
  
• Talking Travel with Amy and Wim
  
• Talking Travel with Hien
  
• Talking Travel and HIV/AIDS in India with Dave Reidy
  
• Talking Travel with Utrecht
  

Izzy and Marisa (aka. triptime) set out in September on a round-the-world trip together, scarcely eight months after they first met. Their journey has taken them through the United States and South America, while they have contemplated their lives and their relationship. Meanwhile, they've been faithfully blogging about it on Travellerspoint at Marisa and Izzy's Blogsite.

For this month's installment of the Talking Travel series, I talked to Izzy about what this trip has meant to them both.

Why did you both decide to do this trip?

Before ever meeting, we had both decided we each needed a trip like this in order the get to the next phase of life. There was something out there in world that would release those answers once the decision was made. Within a couple weeks of dating, Marisa told me she was taking time out to travel within the year and asked if I would be interested. I had been waiting a long time for someone to ask that question...

You actually only met a year ago, in February. Has this been a bonding experience for you as a couple?

Wow, has it! The bond was strong right off the bat, but with planning, preparing, sacrificing and now traveling we have truly become one. We were willing to take the chance, knowing this amount of time with anyone can be hard, challenging and/ or detrimental. I had asked a friend back in LA, a month or so after making the decision to take the trip (he had done one similar the previous year), if he had any advise... he answered, "Do you love her? Don't do it unless you do." This still rings true. A trip like this puts patience, acceptance and compromise to the ultimate tests - an amazing learning experience if you pass. Having so much time to enjoy the company of someone you love is invaluable. We've had time and experience now to help us harmonize as a couple. I think travel like this should be a prerequisite to marriage.

What was the number one thing you were worried about before you set off on this trip?

Finances were definitely a major concern. We were trying to go into the trip at 50/50 with our money, making sure we were equally invested. I had a solid base, but Marisa was struggling to make last minute money. Really, our only tiffs so far have been about money and budgeting. Once we put that behind us, it's been clear sailing.

What have been some of the highlights of your trip so far?

Our road trip from LA to NYC (before flying to Peru) still ranks at the top of our travels. From the amazement of the Grand Canyon, to meeting each others friends and family (not to mention my first time in New York City!) this part of the trip metaphorically seemed like the honeymoon - full of young energy and anticipation, while South America has been more like the marriage -day to day problem solving adventures that take patience and thoughtful response, learning every bit of the way.

How expensive is a trip like this?

It's as expensive as you want it to be, period. For us, we have made many little mistakes along the way that have added up. We are currently spending around $1,000 USD a month each (not including our original around the world plane tickets). The more savvy you are and the more sacrifices you are willing to make, the cheaper it becomes. Most of the time, traveling as a couple has saved us money because we were able to share costs of lodging, food and fun.

Judging by your travel map, your plan is to travel till September. What then?

The ultimate question. We have been struggling with this question for the past few days as we make major changes to our trip and lives. The new plan is that Marisa is heading back to Mexico (where she lived for eight years prior to LA) this week to reunite with the ashram and orphanage that she helped start, while I continue traveling for a few months. Travel has taught us both so much about ourselves and each other. In Marisa's case it's given her great clarity about what she wants to do in life and where. She has found what she was searching for through this journey and soon I will join her and explore the place she wants to call home to see if it also for me. Our love for each other has only grown stronger through all of our experiences and we have faith that this change in plans, although a challenge, will be yet another blessing along our journey.

• **

Check out these past interviews in the Talking Travel series:

• Talking Travel with Marlis
  
• Talking Travel with Gretchen
  
• Talking Travel with Andrew and Courtney
  
• Talking Travel with Purdy
  
• Talking Travel with Maria
  
• Talking Travel with Niels
  
• Talking Travel with Amy and Wim
  
• Talking Travel with Hien
  
• Talking Travel and HIV/AIDS in India with Dave Reidy
  
• Talking Travel with Utrecht
  

Every month (or so), I interview someone from the Travellerspoint community for the Talking Travel series. Today, I have an interview with Marlis for you. You've probably seen Marlis around the forums, but you've almost certainly seen some of her photos featured on the Travellerspoint home page. In this interview, Marlis tells us about her travels in 2008, plans for the new year and her love for photography.

Marlis on her Antarctic cruise.

Happy New Year Marlis! Did you do much travelling in 2008?

Let me first wish you and all TP members a very exiting New travel year.

2008 was a good one for me, traveled as much as I could. You know how it is when you have a business, there are slow weeks when you can go away and let your assistant take care. In 2008 I started early with my dream trip to the most southern place in the world, Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia in Argentina, where the trip to the Antarctic Peninsula started. It was really a unforgettable experience. Flying in a little plain over the Beagle Canal and some days in Buenos Aires at the end were also highlights of the first trip of the year.

Before I had left I had booked already the next flight to Buenos Aires for April. My brother who lives in NZ and Germany had asked me to give him some tips about places he should visit in South America, so I booked for him accommodation (through TP) for the whole trip and told him and his wife that I feel very sorry that I can't meet them so short after my big trip. Big surprise when they came from Chile I was waiting in Buenos Aires at the Airport. We had seen each other last time 9 years ago in NZ so we enjoyed for 2 weeks BA and Iguazu together before they left for Brazil and I made on my way home a 1 week stop in Ecuador again to visit my godchild.

In October I had the feeling that I needed some days just to relax and study for my exam for my Dutch passport, besides shopping for my business in Ecuador. In Vilcabamba I found the perfect place, not too high and with a pleasant
climate, spoiled myself at the spa, enjoyed the Bavarian food (hostel owners are from Bavaria, Germany) so it was more a relaxing vacation then travelling.

What about 2009? What are your travel plans for this coming year?

Right now I don't know where to go, Patagonia or Brazil - maybe I should flip a coin. At the moment I only have tickets to BA booked but should make a decision soon since I leave on the 5th of February. For later this year I have no plans yet but this may change, depending on how much the economy situation will affect my business.

Anyone who's browsed through your photo gallery will know that you take some beautiful photos. What kind of camera do you use?

Olympus 5050, Olympus E 100 RS, Olympus E 520/70-300mm and 14-42mm Nikon Coolpix 8800. The E 100 RS is my favorite. It's fast and has a very good lens. The other ones have more pixels but are slow compared to the E 100.

Fire at Torres del Paine, Chile. Photo by Marlis.

How long have you been interested in photography?

This question brings back childhood memories. My brother's hobby was photography and his bedroom was also his darkroom. I was fascinated when he was showing and teaching me everything from taking a photo till the print.
Not realy a surprise that I was later working as a photographer until I left Germany.

One of the things I find on trips is that it's easy to get distracted by always wanting to get a good shot. You see something beautiful, so you want to take a photo. But as a result, you don't stop to enjoy it and really experience the place. Do you find this?

Yes, but only when I have to follow like a sheep a guided tour so I try to avoid it and arrange a private taxi tour or walk around alone. I really hate it when I can't take my time to enjoy the places where I am. I like to sit down and watch the people passing by, talking to the vendors at the flea markets and watching painters or street performers.

You're originally from Germany, but you've been living in the Netherlands Antilles for the past 17 years. What attracted you to the Netherlands Antilles?

Actually it's 18 years now that I've lived here on Bonaire, one of the 5 Islands of the Netherlands Antilles (this is changing). It was love at first sight; this was my place and I could feel it: Tranquil and peaceful, multicultural and unspoiled, no ghettos, the climate, the language, easygoing on Island time but with some influence from Europe/Netherlands.

• **

Check out these past interviews in the Talking Travel series:

• Talking Travel with Gretchen
  
• Talking Travel with Andrew and Courtney
  
• Talking Travel with Purdy
  
• Talking Travel with Maria
  
• Talking Travel with Niels
  
• Talking Travel with Amy and Wim
  
• Talking Travel with Hien
  
• Talking Travel and HIV/AIDS in India with Dave Reidy
  
• Talking Travel with Utrecht
  

Fifteen vacation days a year may limit Gretchen's (aka Isadora) travel opportunities, but that hasn't stopped her from being one of Travellerspoint's most active members, with over 12,000 forum entries, a ton of photos uploaded and a lot of additions to the wiki travel guide. All this activity has earned her unofficial status as "Travellerspoint Mom".

I figured it was about time to turn the spotlight on our TP Mom.

Isadora with her husband, TP's Beerman.

You're known on the forums as the "Travellerspoint Mom". How does it feel to be charged with the maternal responsibility for an entire online community?!

Wow! You are one tough interviewer, Dr. Pepper! Did you know there's a soft drink named after you? You're world famous! Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to digress... What was the question again? Ah, how does it feel to be charged with the maternal responsibility for an entire online community - right... To be honest with you, it's absolutely lovely. It's downright communal. Seriously. Look at it from my perspective - there are no nappies/diapers to change, no one is asking for the car keys or money for their travels, they all want to spread their wings and fly to unknown destinations, and I don't have to feed them. Granted, I'm a pretty good cook (ask those who have visited Isa Manor) but that number of daily meals would break the bank. Ultimately, being TP Mom just requires me to do what I have always done - answer people's questions honestly, give them support and let them fly. As you stated, it is a community and my ultimate goal is to be TP Great-Grandmom. (With 12,000+ posts, I'm off to a good start. Just don't tell anyone how I really earned them.) I'm not sure I would have been so liberal had I had my own children but I would hope so. I know how I felt growing up and being constrained. I don't want anyone to feel they can't go somewhere or do something because someone else doesn't see the point. Go! Explore! Enjoy! Fly! Don't forget to send post cards! Maybe call once in awhile!

You know this question isn't fair... You promised to start with "What is your name?" or "What's your favorite color?" or "What is the capital of Ancient Assyria?". I can answer those easily. (By the way the answers are Gretchen, purple and Nineveh.) Maternal responsibility is... well... a responsible question... By the way, are there martinis served during this interview? Okay, back to topic (a favorite Moderator comment) - I like the TP Mom distinction because it means that members know me, trust me and feel comfortable with me. Most of them like martinis too. And, the occasional spanking - it just comes with the territory. (Ummmm, you do know that there are about 172,686 members who don't know I'm TP Mom... Just thought I'd pass that along... Don't mind me...) What's the next question?

How did you first discover TP? Why did you decide to stick around?

Okay, now we're getting to the easy stuff. Phew!! I was beginning to worry that all of your questions were going to be of the "How does it feel" genre and I was panicking. How's the weather feel down in Melbourne? I hear it's about 14C during the day. We're about the same! Go fig! Oh, what was that again? How did I discover TP and why did I stay? Good questions. I've been asking myself the same things since 2005. Kris (beerman) and I were planning a trip to Panama because we'd read about the large ex-pat population and wanted to check it out for ourselves. I searched several different websites but experienced a "zero comfort level" with all but TP. I posted my first question on January 19, 2005. It received no responses by the time we left for Panama and I neglected to check back after we returned. All this time, I've been waiting for a reply and then I was outta here. Until you began this interview little did I know someone responded the day before we returned from our trip. (Yup, found that old thread.) I guess it's too late to quit TP now... I could but what would be the point. I'm TP Mom. If truth be told, we've stuck around because we've met some awesome people on this site, including Sam and Pete. You've met them, right? (Oh, have I got stories for you...) Again, seriously, we love the community and feel "at home" here. We have been "embraced" by total strangers who, over time, have become some of our closest friends. To date, we've been to 4 TP Meet-ups and have met 16 other TPers (including the above mentioned Overlords and the famous Cupcake) plus additional non-members who just had to see what this travel forum thingy was all about. (Don't tell anyone this either but the real reason I stick around - I'm co-moderator of Off Topic - how fun is that??!!! Oops - and I keep speaking for beerman ... Bad Isa...)

When was your first big overseas trip?

It all depends on how you define "big" or "overseas" or both. My first "big overseas" (meaning Atlantic Ocean) trip was September 2006 when we traveled to Ireland for a TP meet-up. It was also the year the American team lost the Ryder Cup trophy to the Europeans in Dublin and I had to pay Jase007 $5.00USD. No, not because I like him so much, I just lost the bet. (Hahaha - this year he lost and has yet to pay up. Kris is still waiting by the mailbox for that 10BPS.) Again, I digress... Anyway...

Prior to Ireland, my first "big overseas" trip was Jamaica in 1985 with my dad. My mom had passed away and we didn't want to spend Christmas in the deep dark depths of snow and depression. (Midwesterners, ya know. Insert Minnesota accent here. Sort of like a Canadian accent but different. We don't say "eh" at the end of everything.) Christmas had been her favorite time of year so we chose to celebrate it in our own way - in the sunshine. I even got my diving certification so I could see the things she'd always been afraid of under the water. (She had nearly drowned years before and always had a certain apprehension when I would go swimming.) It may not qualify as a "big overseas" trip but it will always be one of the most important trips I have ever taken. It brought me back together with my dad (a relationship that had been teetering on disaster for some time) and allowed him to see me as an adult. Okay - a bit maudlin but a defining moment nonetheless. We continued those trips for the next nine years until he passed away. Sorry, not to take away from Ireland... We had a wonderful time while in Ireland and met several TP members in the process. We can thank Pardus for taking us on a whirlwind tour of the country over 10 days (driving the circumference of Ireland). Since then, we have had Pardus, Jase007 and Purdy visit us at Isa Manor. Hopefully, we'll get back to the Emerald Isle to visit them soon. (Okay, Pardus has visited us 3 times - but he just doesn't take no for an answer.)

What do you look for in your travel destinations?

Free room and board - with a view. Nothing tacky, mind you. It has to be upscale, pool, jacuzzi, mini-bar, full breakfast (none of this continental breakfast - stale pastry and a cup of coffee stuff) and free laundry service. Okay, I'll be blunt - 6 star service, nothing less. Hey, I'm 55 years old and I enjoy creature comforts like clean sheets, a real bed, and a private bath. Yes, I'm, joking. Sort of. It really boils down to the type of "vacation" we're looking for at the time. Kris has 15 days of holiday leave so it doesn't bode well for 10 months of "on the road in S. America or Australia or S.E. Asia". If we want to relax, dive, eat, drink and just do nothing - we choose the all-inclusive resort packages. If we want to see particular regions, we do the cross-country driving tours. (Yes, there are people who will say, "take the buses" but with only 15 days and a whole country to scout out, spending most of it on a bus isn't all that appealing.) We book accommodations for the first/last nights then point to a spot on the map and we're off.

Regardless of which style vacation we choose, we do make a point to explore and experience the country and culture. Not too horribly long ago, during one of our "get out of Dodge" Jamaican trips, we were invited to visit some friends at the Desnoes & Geddes Brewery in Kingston - home of the world famous Red Stripe Beer. The car rental agency in Ocho Rios gave us a bright red Daewoo Llanos, pointed in the direction of Kingston and said, "Don't get killed." We think they purposely put us in a bright red car to warn everyone crazy Americans were behind the wheel and likely to drive on the right (wrong) side of the road. We didn't. The 60-mile tour de force through Fern Gully and over mountains and across one-car-width-wide bridges took 3 hours but we got there... In one piece and no accidents. We dodged cows, goats and little children walking to school. The children watch for traffic but the livestock... Well, let's just say they don't seem to have a very long lifespan when tethered to road signs. Kris and I also ended up making a deal somewhere along the way. The more nervous I became, the more I was allowed to sing - with increasing volume. By the time we arrived in Kingston, the poor guy was almost completely deaf. I was fine because the car had stopped moving. Did you know that Jamaicans not only speak English and Patois, but they have another whole language spoken in car horn and flashing headlights? It's amazing and if we ever decide to drive in the country again, we might be able to teach "Horn-Honking as a Second Language" to pay for the trip. Oh, yes, our friends were happy to see us but forced us to leave after a few hours so we'd be back in Ocho Rios before dark. We also had to promise to call when we got back though they beat us to it - 4 messages - each one more frantic than the last. That trip prepared us for Ireland - where they also expected us to drive on the right (wrong) side of the road. We did. But only for one block. Okay, maybe two.

I guess the lesson here is: "It doesn't matter your style of travel or the destination. Just be open and understanding of the local culture.

What are some of your favourite holiday spots in the USA?

Hmmmm... This is a hard one... They aren't the "big attractions" that most people want to see such as the Grand Canyon or Yosemite or the Redwood Forest. And, that's mainly because I haven't been to any of those places myself. I'm guessing if I say "my own back yard" people will think it's too Dorothy-ish. You know - Wizard of Oz. (Wonderful movie. You should watch it. It's not about Australia. And I like the flying monkeys the best.) What was that? Oh, okay, back to the topic...

First on my list is New Orleans, Louisiana. It's been years since I was there but I want to go back in the worst way. The culture within the city and throughout the whole state for that matter is unique and distinctive. I contemplated moving there at one time but then life got in the way. Oh well.

Second on the list is Crystal River, Florida. There's a Best Western right on the river and the dive shop next door rents pontoon boats. The hotel is neither here nor there but it is convenient. The manatees come up river in the winter and calve there in spring. We've discovered the secret to finding their hiding places and have been rewarded with hours of sightings. Kris had one mother almost knock him off his feet when he got into the river to cool off. She was just checking him out. Our best friend and his family live 20 minutes away so we try to get down there yearly - for the manatees and our friend. The Rainbow River is right there also and it's beautiful. It's crystal clear, 23C all year round and great snorkeling. Back to Crystal River - the best burgers for miles and miles in any direction are right next door to the Best Western too, at a place called Crackers. It's on the right side and the dive shop is on the left - can't miss either of them.

Third would be Yellowstone National Park. I've only ever seen a small portion of the park and it's another "need to go back" destination. There is no other geological site in the world like it. Did you know that the Yellowstone sits on top of an active volcano? Check it out, it's pretty cool!

Last would have to be my own back yard. It's not much to look at but when we get TP visitors, it's the place to be. Martini anyone? We can do Mojitos too.

Do you have any future trips planned?

Do I have any future trips planned????? You mean like actually planning a trip and then actually going there??? You mean like leaving home and the safety of TP???? No, no, no!!!! You're interviewing TP's most vicarious traveler. I let everyone else do the planning, traveling and blogging about their adventures. Sometimes they even send me post cards to prove "we've" been such and such a place. It's a great way to explore the world - cheap too. Besides, it will probably be snowing soon and beerman will be lucky just to get to work let alone to an airport.

Okay, I see by the look on your face that you're not falling for that one. Understandable. We do talk about future trips all of the time. The one with the greatest potential for being next is another driving tour. We have our favorite music artists who sing about different towns and cities in the US. Such a trip would take us to (in no particular order because we haven't plotted out a map yet) Nashville, Pascagoula, Lake Charles, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Vicksburg, and a few more. If we time it well, we'll be able to visit some friends during the Jazz & Heritage Fest in New Orleans.

Another one on the list harkens back to my dad and his time in the South Pacific during World War II. I have "cats eyes" (semi-precious gems) that he gathered from a beach in Guadalcanal. I have one of the U.S.S. Denver's war room rubber maps of Peleliu. I have a journal he kept during that time and it lists all of the islands he visited. I plan to see them all for myself before too long. It may not be tomorrow or even next year, but I will get there.

Anyway, there are my answers and I'm stickin' to 'em. You're still one tough interviewer, Dr. P.! Did you know there's a soft drink named after you? You're world famous. They even have a jingle: "I'm a Pepper, He's a Pepper, She's a Pepper, We're a Pepper, Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too? Be a Pepper ~ Drink Dr Pepper."

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Check out these past interviews in the Talking Travel series:

• Talking Travel with Andrew and Courtney
  
• Talking Travel with Purdy
  
• Talking Travel with Maria
  
• Talking Travel with Niels
  
• Talking Travel with Amy and Wim
  
• Talking Travel with Hien
  
• Talking Travel and HIV/AIDS in India with Dave Reidy
  
• Talking Travel with Utrecht