I had a kind of crazy idea a few weeks ago. I thought what if I let my community of Suitcase Entrepreneurs choose my next adventure?
Well that’s what I’m attempting here on my birthday! The time is nearing when I have to write my next chapter and I want you to be a part of it. So either sit back and enjoy this slightly long, but very exciting post. Or just vote here now
The next chapter
Can you remember those books you read as a kid called `Choose your own adventure’, where once you got part way through you could choose what you wanted the main character to do next?. I loved them. They went something like this:
`If you want Kenneth to use the key and unlock the secret door go to Chapter 8. If you want Kenneth to drink the magic formula and pass through the gates to the castle, go to Chapter 5.’
After almost 5 months living in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I’m really enjoying the city now. Once I got over the fact that services were slow, wifi was unreliable, streets were dirty, cars did not stop for pedestrians, healthy food was harder to come by…things started to look up.
In short I readjusted my expectations and now I discover something lovely every day. My Spanish has improved and I look forward to the hot coffees and medialunas in the morning.
However on in May I have a flight back to Los Angeles, United States, and it’s time for my next adventure.
The decision is in your hands. Are you ready?
Since I could not just let you send me anywhere – I’d probably end up in Bermuda or Timbuktu if you had your choice, I picked out 5 destinations to choose from. Each destination has its pros and cons and are on my list for a reason.
They either speak to helping me business wise, adventure wise or Ultimate Frisbee wise – you see I have my priorities sorted….
**A quick background on this Suitcase Entrepreneur
**If you’ve never read the `Who is Natalie Sisson’ page I’ll forgive that you may not know I’m on a mission to visit half the countries in the world in the next decade. According to official records this is half of 196. So 98 countries.
I’ve visited 44 countries so far in my life, many of those several times. The the aim is to visit 5-6 new countries each year. To qualify as a proper visit I have to spend at least 24 hours in the country and one night.
Exceptions so far have been Burma, where I illegally crossed the border with two friends and got chased out by an angry local a few hours later. He had a gun, we decided to comply. Plus the Vatican City, it’s not really large enough to hang out in for 24 hours, unless of course the Pope suggests you stay for tea.
How does this Adventure work?
So you get to read my scenarios of the five different options below and then submit your vote. Share this with all your friends and let’s make this a crazy cool idea that spreads like wildfire.
To fill you in on the important stuff, my existing travel plans are this:
11 May: Return flight to LA
4-5 June: World Domination Summit, Portland
11 September: Rugby World Cup, New Zealand
Yes after 5.5 years I’m finally returning home to my beautiful country for a well overdue visit. Mainly because the Rugby World Cup is finally taking place in our country over two months. And just quietly, this year the All Blacks are GOING TO WIN! Watch out world.
(For those of you with no idea what rugby is, I’m not being racist above, they wear all black outfits with a silver fern – one of our country’s symbols. They also wear tight tops which help show off their sexy muscles – a uniform change I fully supported when it came into effect a few years ago).
My sister and I bought tickets to two games several months ago. The first one is on 11 September in my home town Wellington, which also happens to be her birthday.
Right, now you know a lot more about me, the point is I have approximately 3 months between the end of the WDS and before landing in New Zealand to be in a new destination.
The Destinations Revealed
To vote, simply enter your choice in the form below.
Option 1: Colombia
Once renowned as a dangerous country full of drug lords, crime and kidnapping expats, Colombia, South America, is now a prospering country with some of the most friendly people I’ve met, great coffee and a love of football.
At least 70% of the Ultimate Frisbee players here in Buenos Aires are from Colombia. They love to party, they always laugh and joke, wear a huge smile and have fun. I’ve received more invites to come and experience their country and stay with their families then I care to remember.
Bogota, Colombia
Pros:
I haven’t been to Colombia yet. Ever since watching ‘Romancing the Stone’ with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, who at one point states in a husky breath `We’re going to Cartagena?!’ I’ve had a hankering to visit. I hear the capital Bogota is very happening and there are many beautiful parts of the country to discover.
They also speak the most clear Spanish in South America and I find them much easier to understand. I think while I’m on a roll with learning Spanish this would be a good move to continue. It’s also slightly cheaper than Buenos Aires.
Cons:
None really aside from the fact that I have a return flight so I’d have to buy another to come back to South America, or just delay this one. I’d also be tempted to stay on in Buenos Aires and just go to visit this country, not live there, because it’s in the same continent.
Option 2: Somewhere in Europe
I agree that sounds very vague but here’s the scoop, I’d visit several countries, that I’ve already been to during the 3 months.
Our GB Gold Medal Womens' Team at World Beach
**Pros:
**In August the World Beach Ultimate Championships are happening in Italy. I won a gold medal with the Great Britain Women’s team in 2007 in Brazil. I’d love to play again and have several options for making teams right now. It would be – as always, an amazing experience and a way to catch up with many of my friends in one place.
Before that event I have the option to head to Amsterdam for the Windmill Windup tourney, then go to Portugal to play in the best teach tournie ever – Bar do Peixe. Then attend my friends wedding in Hungary, and then head back to England, where I lived for 2,5 years, to train with the women’s team – if I make tryouts. Plus it’s just the time of the year for beach tournies in Spain and other locations too.
Cons:
It’s unlikely I’ll visit any new countries while there unless I make a side trip to a new destination on a whim and spur. I’d be staying with friends the whole time (which helps the travel budget) but that does make setting a work routine quite difficult, and playing lots of Ultimate would mean less time working on the business. So I’d have to ensure I had it working for me when I’m not able to work on it.
Option 3: Vietnam
When I visited South East Asia enroute to London in 2006, I turned a 2 week trip into a 6 week one and travelled around with just a 15L day back! I adored visiting Thailand, Cambodia, Burma and Laos. In fact, to this day, Laos is one of my top 3 favourite countries. Yet I didn’t make it to Vietnam, although I was very tempted.
Halong Bay, Vietnam
Pros:
I’ve never been. The food is great. It’s very cheap to live there and they have, according to reliable sources, decent internet. It will be warm and exotic with much to discover. It’s also closer to home so I could buy one flight with an extended stopover in Vietnam.
Cons:
It’s a very populated country with a totally different culture that, like the rest of South East Asia, can test your patience. They cater to tourists well but the flipside of that is it can be touristy, if you don’t leave the beaten track. I’m not sure I can handle Vietnamese food for 3 months.
Option 4: United States
In reality, I feel I’m often missing a lot of opportunities to attend great conferences, connect with lots of people and really be integrated into the business scene when I’m not in the US. Love it or hate it, it really is where so many opportunities abound and is one of the epicenters for startups.
Me in NYC in 2008 on top of the Rockefeller Centre
Pros:
I know being in the United States would be a smart move for growing my business. Mores specifically I’d love to live in New York City which is making a name for itself as the startup capital and has the infrastructure for me to network and connect with others in this space. I feel I could do with a dose of being around this environment of energy, initiative and innovation.
I could also go to the US Tennis Open again in August which holds a special place in my heart as it was the final Grand Slam to complete my goal of seeing the big four in 2008. Plus it’s NYC baby – I smiled for 10 consecutive days when I stayed there – that’s pretty impressive.
Cons:
It’s damn expensive. Apartments are small and it’s a fast paced, big city that requires energy and determination and a large amount of sass.
Option 5: India
This country has been on my list, along with China for a long time. Of all the people I’ve asked who have been, they seem to love it or hate it. That in itself intrigues me. Apparently it’s sensory overload.
Orissa, India, courtesy of Shutterstock
Pros:
Aside from being incredibly cheap I know this would be heck of an adventure and there are so many places I’d want to visit. This would be, like Vietnam a destination I would do a lot of travelling in, and really experience a different culture.
Cons:
I am pretty sure the infrastructure for running my virtual business will be very challenging here so that could hamper efforts to launch various initiatives that require reliable technology and internet. There’s likely no Ultimate being played there – I’ve yet to learn of a tournament there and I think it could be slightly more dangerous, as a solo female traveler – which adds to the adventure.
The rest is still unwritten
In case you haven’t heard this great song `Unwritten‘ by Natasha Beddingfield ( a fellow Kiwi), this is a line from it. It very much applies. My story continues on and the next chapter awaits. What’s it going to contain?
Mystery? Intrigue? Exotic culture? Fast-paced city action? Fast speaking Spanish men? Unreliable internet? Tuk-tuks or snakes? Romantic palaces or famous skyscrapers?
Vote now. Results will be released on the 10th of April. I reserve the rights to change my mind at whim by the way, although I’ll do my best to comply with the winning vote 😉
Which destination should I choose for my next adventureonline survey
If you’ve been to any of these destinations let me know what you thought of them in the comments below too.