So, a couple of months ago Sam and I went to the Destinations Travel Show at Earls Court courtesy of the free tickets I was given by Wanderlust magazine. I sat through (and tried to predict the outcome of) the Wanderlust Travel Awards, had my desire to go to South America reignited through a Dragoman presentation on board one of their gargantuan trucks and had various little tastes of alcohol at the toffee vodka and Chilean wine stands. Despite the wealth of information and food for thought gained from these shows, just about every exhibition offers some form of competition. Now, I am a BIG fan of travel competitions and enter about every single one I find. Hell, I even thought I was being super professional by taking a pen along to the show with me until I saw some crazy middle-aged people carrying sheets of labels with their details pre-printed on them! I couldn't figure out whether I should admire their commitment or their laziness.
So after spending an entire day repeatedly writing my name, e-mail address and contact telephone number I am still waiting to be contacted about my free trip to India, Iceland, Indonesia or anywhere else. I did, however, win a free Rough Guide from Responsible Travel (who offer some really great trips by the way, including a yurt holiday in Portugal). I chose The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget so that I can start thinking about my 2012 adventure in advance. I already have a huge collection of guidebooks for this year's destinations and the Trans Siberian Railway trip I plan to do next year. This week I have been reading about Ecuador (Quito will be my starting point) and the amazing side trips which can be taken to the Galapagos Islands and into the Ecuadorian jungle. Even though I am planning, as my guidebook states, 'on a budget', I am still going to need a huge chunk of cash to go with and some lucky competition wins to keep me wayfaring in the meantime!!
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