Speaker 1: 0:00

Hi, I'm Alexa and I'm Rory, and together we are.

Speaker 2: 0:05

The.

Speaker 1: 0:05

Romies, we are married.

Speaker 2: 0:08

To each other.

Speaker 1: 0:09

Right, we are a touring musical duo.

Speaker 2: 0:12

And our music has taken us to all kinds of places all around the world and keeps us always on the go.

Speaker 1: 0:17

So we hope you enjoy our stories and adventures while running around working to keep all your plates spinning.

Speaker 2: 0:24

And we hope to facilitate your busy lifestyle and feed your inner travel bug. Hi everyone, welcome to our December episode. We are super excited to wrap up this year with a really, really fun guest. This year we have had brand sponsors. In this episode, we wanted to introduce you to a couple of our affiliate partnerships, and so basically, what that means is there is no additional cost to you. You head to our show notes, you click on the links and you use our specific links to go shopping and you shop from the link that we provide and that gives us some love back back, but it doesn't cost anything extra to you, and so that is one way that you can help support us with what we are doing. You can help support the podcast, but, more importantly, you're gonna find some really cool stuff for you and for maybe some last minute Christmas gifts, if you need ideas and things like that. So please head over to our show notes. The affiliates that we are highlighting are Clean Canteen Y'all. I put my tea in a Clean Canteen the night before and it is still hot the next morning. We are going to be talking about them later this year because we just love Clean Canteen. Check them out.

Speaker 2: 1:43

We have mentioned Yuko Gear to you before, and we have also briefly mentioned Fermu, and you've seen them on our socials. Fermu offers glasses, sunglasses or prescription whatever you might need. And then Yuko Gear is super fun outdoor gear. So those are some of the affiliate partners that we have. So please visit the show notes of this episode, click on those links, and Yuko Gear also has a promo code that is lasting, I think, through the holiday season. So, depending on when you listen to this, you can grab that as well and get you some good last minute deals. And one more thing before we dive into our interview, we got to mention all of our trivia questions because that's something we've just decided to do this year of our trivia questions, because that's something we've just decided to do this year. So I'm gonna throw those at you and then the answers will be given at the very end of the episode. So you got to stay tuned through the whole thing, which you are going to want to do, because this is just a super fun interview that we have with our special guest.

Speaker 2: 2:39

I will tell you about her in just one little quick second, but first, first, first trivia question is which US state is the TV show Breaking Bad set in? Okay, that ended in a preposition, and so I obviously did not write these All right. Next one which country does Bill Tong originate from? Whatever that is. Next, which waterfall can be found on the US-Canada border? And next, which US state is the movie Fargo set in, again, ending with a preposition. But that's okay. Okay, and then, from which country does the kebab originate? Okay, and the last one around 1,000 statues called Moai, created I'm sure I pronounced that correctly created by the early Rapa Nui people, which I'm sure I pronounced that correctly created by the early Rapa Nui people, which I'm sure I pronounced that correctly can be found on which island? All right, so those are your trivia questions. Stay tuned for the answers and stay tuned for our awesome, fun interview with special guest Pamela Holt.

Speaker 2: 3:43

Hi everyone, welcome to our December episode of 2024. We are super excited to have you joining us. We are doing a video episode, so those of you who normally only listen to us, there is a video version out there now. So, yeah, so check that out. We are really, really excited for today's guest. Today we have Pamela Holt. She is the executive producer and Holt of the show Me, myself and the World.

Speaker 1: 4:11

She's the executive producer and host as well.

Speaker 2: 4:14

What did I say?

Speaker 1: 4:15

You said Pamela Holt was the Holt of the show.

Speaker 2: 4:19

That's awesome. She, she, yes, she is, she holds everything together.

Speaker 1: 4:23

Yes, she, yes, she is, she is the whole, everything together yes, she does so.

Speaker 2: 4:27

She executive produces, she holds and she hosts, that's right her show me myself and the world which is streaming on amazon prime go traveler to be, and more. We are really, really excited not only to have this interview with her but to share, just hear about her stories and hope that you will be inspired for your own adventures, especially in the world of solo travel we're going to dive into that. So, pamela, welcome. Thank you so much for being here.

Speaker 5: 4:56

Thank you for having me, and fun.

Speaker 4: 4:58

Thank you for welcoming me to your home here in Waco, Texas.

Speaker 5: 5:01

Yes, we're filming in our home.

Speaker 4: 5:03

Yes, thank you for having me.

Speaker 2: 5:06

Yeah, we're thrilled so Me, myself. And the World is so aptly titled, because it is a focus on solo travel and an emphasis on the art of solo travel. Yeah, so tell us what got you into doing a show about solo?

Speaker 4: 5:24

travel, yeah, okay. So, as you mentioned, the tagline for my show is the art of solo travel and it's because I started solo traveling when I was 19 years old. I moved to Japan and I would solo travel around while I was working there and I really got the travel bug when I was probably 13 years old. Actually, I remember the moment we were in Japan and I was turning 14. I was at a very famous restaurant in Hong Kong. We had just come from Japan.

Speaker 4: 5:57

I was in Hong Kong at oh now, I misplaced the name in my head, I'll think of it and they had the best French onion soup ever I don't know why I'm in hong kong having french onion soup 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 saved up all summer for it and I bought it in hong kong and here I was wearing this fancy Seiko watch with the Roman numerals and this whole restaurant was singing happy birthday to me and I was like I was in hog heaven and I just really got the travel bug at that moment.

Speaker 5: 6:36

And like.

Speaker 4: 6:37

I said by age 19,. I was solo, traveling by myself, much to my father's chagrin.

Speaker 2: 6:44

And yeah, this is before cell phones, this is before the internet, and you're just winging it now, when you were doing that, were you does japan because we haven't been there yet we're going to talk a little bit more about japan later, but are did you? Were there trains? How did you get around? Were you doing a lot of flying trains? What were you doing?

Speaker 4: 7:05

So I was living in Tokyo. I live six stops off the Ikebukuro line, which everyone that has been in Japan, they picture the map and they know where everything is by the train lines. Okay, and I would switch homes. I was directing a children's musical, actually Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Yeah, it was really fun. I was directing it for these kids and they were learning English at the same time and with a theater background, it was perfect.

Speaker 4: 7:34

Yeah, Because you are a performer and entertainer and singer I am yes, I started my career as an actor and singer, which I still do occasionally, but travel has really taken over my life.

Speaker 1: 7:48

We'll have to test that at some point, oh boy Okay we'll sing a little duet.

Speaker 4: 7:54

Aw, yeah, okay, and so I really. It took me a long time to really wake up in terms of marrying the passion. So I come from performing theater, film and television. I came from producing several short films, sold two short films one at Sundance, one at the Cannes Short Corner and I was actually on my Golden Jubilee trip. It was my 50th birthday. I went to seven countries over seven and a half weeks and it was on that trip that I realized wait, a minute. I was a travel host for florence henderson. I had this experience making and telling stories and as a filmmaker, and I had been to 92 countries. At that point, why aren't I marrying my passions and putting it all together and creating a show? So it was that eureka moment, yes, and I created me myself in the world, the art of solo travel. It's so fun.

Speaker 2: 8:56

Now, in that process, I feel like you have sort of redefined how people might normally think about solo travel. When they're like what, the first thing that comes to mind when you say solo travel. I feel like you have kind of given us a different thing, a different way to think about it. So how would you do?

Speaker 4: 9:16

that you know I was. I got married just two years ago, so thank you. And for years I got that sad look of oh, you're a solo traveler. Exactly everywhere on airplanes, at airports, with my friends back in los angeles, everywhere I went it was like, oh, she can't find anybody, she's alone. And I hated the word alone, because I'm secretly watching these couples who are feeling bad for me. I'm like are you kidding me? Like I'm the lucky one.

Speaker 4: 9:49

Like you two are going to bed at 10 pm. I'll be at the clubs and museums all day long and creating all these adventures. I don't have to ask permission, I don't have to get an invitation, I can just go.

Speaker 4: 10:02

And I think what really came to me in particular this last year is I've redefined solo travel, and s-o-l-o stands really for seeking out life's opportunities and that's what I've been doing all these years and that's what inspired other women and men to to look at my journey and my path and say, well, well, how is Pamela doing it? I want to do that, and I think also by redefining solo travel, to seeking out life's opportunities. We're not talking about single travel. We're talking about solo travel. That's for married couples, that's for people who are in relationships, people who are not in relationships. It's about discovering the world on their own terms and not thinking of it in terms of alone, not alone, single, married, taken whatever, however you want to define a partnership, and it just opens up solo travel to everybody.

Speaker 1: 11:00

Yeah, that's awesome. I love the redefinition. What's really cool to me also is that you took who you are and what existed Like it wasn't. I'm going to create something I think the market will really go for and I'm going to fit that mold. You know, no, you took who you are, what you've already been doing, what your passion is, and defined 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 to be 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 pat on the back for solo traveling because it's so amazing and hat on the back for solo traveling because it's so amazing and I didn't realize what it was doing. For women, because I didn't live their life. I didn't not to be mean, I wasn't strapped down by a family or kids, and not that women think they're strapped down or men think they're strapped down. But there is, there's um, you have to take in your, take into account your family, right?

Speaker 4: 12:03

there's that consideration Absolutely.

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 of family and when I started showing them that you know, the husband could take a solo trip to somewhere he wanted to go to and the wife didn't, or the family really wasn't an option for the family to go there, and also for the women and also for the kids. What a lot of people don't realize is you're not necessarily going to send your kid on a solo trip, but we're talking like starting age 13,. You have the Lions Club, who pay for children to study abroad. They live with another family and the deal with the Lions Club is when someone takes in a child, that child is treated exactly like any other child in the family. So if they go to Europe on a private jet, so does the kid, and that family pays for it. And I'm only mentioning that because 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 like sub-Saharan Africa. The other kid ended up in a castle with a very wealthy family, like vacationing in the south of France on their private jet. Oh my gosh. And the parents were like what anyway? And subsequently, that family, then um, alternate summers, brought kids from around the world into their home, and so you have these kids, essentially solo traveling. It's for everybody, at all ages within 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 key for for every age pretty much, because seeking out life's opportunities never ends. I don't care if it's going 30 minutes down the street and exploring some an area of your own area, because you're 95 years old and you know what I mean it's like seeking out life's opportunities is for everyone exactly.

Speaker 4: 14:06

I actually met this woman. Um, she, I think, was 97 and she was solo traveling. I gotta tell you she, she walked around. Everybody was scared of her. This was on a cruise ship where they knew everything about the passengers that came on the guests and she came on. She looked like a puritan and I got stuck going to lunch with her. One day. They're like pamela, she wants to meet you. You know, can you have lunch with her? And I'm like oh, and I go there, like okay, I literally had told the maitre d. I was like all right, 45 minutes into this, I'm needed somewhere where's my?

Speaker 4: 14:41

signal yeah, yeah, I've got rehearsal, I've got something. I mean I sit down. And her opening line was so um, I've traveled the world and I've got lovers in every port and 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 is she came from a very, very wealthy family. Her parents unfortunately died early together and she and her sister had said we never have to rely on a man. And they both set out to say that 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 come and go, but they both traveled. And they had, and they would come and go, but they both traveled and they had friends all over the world, lovers all over the world. And she dressed one way and she was another, and she was such an inspiration and so yeah, solo travel is for all ages.

Speaker 1: 15:37

I would think a hundred year old person telling me opening the conversation like that, I would have to. Yeah, I need something stronger than 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 by its cover no, I loved her and she was on the ship for like 45 days 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 travel is such a great way to build your independence, learn who you are, really discover a lot about yourself. I had a niece tell me, I think last year, when we went to visit she's like you know what you encouraged me before I got married to go overseas, and I had really encouraged her because the family is very close knit, 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 together and they don't leave the area right. And so I was like before you get married, if you're not going to go live on your own, you at least need to travel on your own before you get married, because you need to like. That was my advice to her. Maybe other people have different advice, but I just felt like if you can know who you 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 Russia for a trip and she said it was the best thing she ever did. It made such a difference for her, it taught her things about herself and then she was able to bring that into her relationship and add to that. And so even if you are married and whatever, whatever, like Rory and I will do trips here and there. Oh, um, we will do even solo trips yeah well, we're always married, but here and there we do trips yeah, that's what I meant.

Speaker 2: 17:35

Here and there we do a lot of trips, yeah yeah, but we'll do solo trips even right and so like sometimes he wants to go visit his family and I got things I need to take care of, so he'll go without me, or you know, there's a lot of things or I'll do business trips that he doesn't go on, right, and so we do that all the time and I feel like we are bringing all of us into the marriage, even though we're not doing everything together. Well, we do a lot of things together, but even when we don't do everything together.

Speaker 2: 18:06

We still are growing as people, learning things. We have something else to contribute. Hey, let me tell you about this. I had this experience that you haven't had, so let me share. You know, and it just deepens connection with the people that you are around and that you do spend your daily life with I think the key is you have something 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 to share, something to bring to the table, and what you touched on earlier that's so important, is when you're solo traveling, you are dependent upon yourself. You have to carry all your baggage not physically, mentally too so you are forced to hear your thoughts, especially if you're traveling in a country where you don't speak the language. You're so often um by yourself with your thoughts and how it really exposes yourself to yourself, of what are your thought patterns, what are you spending your time thinking about, and it exposes a lot of that. And so there's so much room for growth, improvement and, more importantly, you you're forced to take care of yourself. You're forced to really literally live with your decisions. So if you're on your phone, not paying attention, and you forget a piece of luggage, miss your stop, it's only on you, and it really can wake up a lot of people to how responsible they are for their actions, their thoughts and their success.

Speaker 1: 19:30

Yeah, you said something that I think is so key. I'm going to interrupt you here for a minute.

Speaker 2: 19:34

That's all right.

Speaker 1: 19:34

That, I think, is so key. You talked about carrying your own baggage, both physically and emotionally, when we travel. And let's say, let's say she's a cliche and she's a woman who carries trunks and all these bags, right, so if I'm with her, she knows I can carry some. If she's by herself, she's going to put some of that down and she's not going to take it anymore because she has to carry it all herself. For us, emotionally, when we travel, it can be the same way If we're having to carry all that baggage by ourself. If there's someone with us, we lean on them to help us carry that baggage. When we're solo traveling, we have to lay that baggage down, which is a really healthy thing to do, and eventually we find we can lay it down and walk away from it.

Speaker 2: 20:22

I think travel can also help you lay those things down, because you are facing that fear. When you were talking, I was like what you are saying right now is probably scaring so many people, because I think one of the biggest barriers to people in their travel is fear. You're either fear of the unknown, but also, if they're solo traveling, there's that fear of I have to live with myself. I have to look myself in the mirror, I have to listen to 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 is feel the fear and do it anyway. It's a book by Susan Jeffers. It's a book that really it's a very unrelated story. It's just about a woman and her decisions as a single mom to go back to school. It's the title of the book. It's what the book stands for is these things are scary and they're going to force you to grow.

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 you haven't solo traveled, start small. If you live in Waco, texas, maybe go to Houston, go to Galveston, drive an hour and a half, two hours up to Dallas. Do small trips, do day trips and be in control by a car. So if you're in Frankfurt, go to a nearby town. If you're in Parisfurt, go to a nearby town. If you're in paris, go over to london, somewhere that you can really just get your feet wet. And if you're enjoying your stay, book a hotel and stay the night and you know, or stay for the weekend and slowly expand. Then the next thing would be go to a neighboring state or a neighboring country, if you're in Europe, and then finally go domestically, and my recommendation is always to start with an English. If you're English speaking, go to 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 and some 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, but that's a great tip for anyone who's feeling the fear. One feel the fear and do it anyway. 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 of what 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 and in bali, indonesia. A lot of people don't know this, so bali is an island in 18 000 islands made up that make up indonesia, and bali is so special it is that it used to be a kingdom all on its own. And you, really, we dive into the culture of the Balinese people and their very calm, serene Hindu background affects all aspects of their life, from the naming of the children to all the flowers, and we really get to dive into that culture through the cooking. And that's something really unique is when you, when you dive into the cooking of the flavors of the culture, you also learn about the history, you learn about the people the taste the smells food and language are 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, the religion, the people, and I really try to get my feet a little dirty or a little wet and and do unique fun things while I'm there, including staying at bamboo inda, which is an incredible eco lodge when people watch. It was actually just named one of the top four places in the world by Time Magazine just last week, 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 one of Me, myself and the World. Streaming now on Amazon Prime yes, 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, which I do throughout both seasons, and in particular I go to northern Vietnam, hanoi, and I have the really distinct pleasure of meeting an American veteran and I bring her together with a Vietnam veteran and they really share in their experience. It's hard to talk about it and not be emotional, because for me, I'm a big supporter of veterans and this was such a cathartic moment, I think, for both of them. And in particular we learned for the vietnam veteran that he had been through three wars and you know, you just assume, oh my gosh, if someone's been in three wars, they're a professional soldier. This guy's a teacher. He didn't want to serve in a musician, he didn't want to serve in any of them, let alone one of them, and had to recover from that and raise a family and then become a teacher and musician and picked up all these unique instruments. And we get to see all of that.

Speaker 4: 25:45

And and one of the most moving moments was with pat, who's the us veteran, and we were we were actually rolling camera and she didn't know it and she just kind of said, oh hey, what's you know, tell me more about the show that you're shooting. When we were just sitting down having a cup of coffee and I said, oh, we'll all be. In every episode I interview young, old guys, girls, all walks of life from all over the world that are solo traveling. She goes oh, you got your old person. And I kind of look over at her and I was like aren't you in your 60s? And she again she doesn't know we're filming she goes yeah, I'm like 67 or something. I was like, oh, no, no, no, I don't, you don't qualify like I'm looking for someone in their 80s or 90s.

Speaker 4: 26:32

And she wrote me several weeks later and she's from pennsylvania and she said that was such a defining moment for her that she didn't qualify for the old person because in pennsylvania she is fully signed up for senior dinners at 5, 30 and, you know, at 55 you get an arp card, exactly. And she's like, oh my gosh, I do 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 parts and of course, helped her realize her life is just beginning.

Speaker 4: 27:11

Yes, in so many ways. Yes, You're in the middle you're not the end Right, and I told her the story of the 90-year-old who's solo traveling spinster, yeah, and then, of course, um, we are already starting to map out season three and season four. They will be in the united states, so I'm looking forward to really sharing niche neighborhoods of the united states with people and all the americana that makes up this 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, looking at the different enclaves within America that we can feature and share with people. One of the exploding markets for travel in 2024, moving into 2025, is actually the India market and I know it's so surprising. They are the biggest expanding Market now and so to really show these other markets, hey, what's in America Beyond the movies? Because everyone generally in Asia and a lot of other South America, africa, europe they judge 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, until you 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 strange time of a new world order and global government kind of stuff. It's like no guys there is a distinct American culture and I think sometimes that gets lost and I think it's so cool that you're going to focus in on that and show people this is America.

Speaker 2: 29:01

Yeah, the melting pot for the last 400 years of all these conglomerate cultures coming together and creating this, brewing up this wonderful stew yeah, that's so cool, we, we enjoy even being able to tell europeans like if they're going to come visit america, to just remind them, or tell them for the first time. Like every state feels different.

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 own personalities. Our states have different personalities and it's really fun to kind of find that and preserve it and highlight it.

Speaker 1: 29:40

Well, and not just in the state, but it's um, for example, in Switzerland a little smaller 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 within those, 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 four national languages. Right Well, in any given state like I'm from Louisiana north, central, north, middle and south Louisiana, kind of three different cultures and you can find pockets up in michigan of these total swiss culture, like the whole town is like you're in switzerland and the people there still have the swiss names and some of them still speak some strange swiss german.

Speaker 1: 30:12

You know what I mean, yeah so even within states there are all these different cultures that, like you said, I've come together and melted to create this thing. But just because you go to a state doesn't mean you've seen all the cultures that exist in that 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 from louisiana, he's not from louisiana, no, he is from south louisiana 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 say you're from California, everyone defines no Cal or SoCal right. Exactly, we are not the same. Yeah, we are two different breeds.

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 they ask is where did you come from? Right Like well, we moved here from 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 the backup 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 so true, yeah, totally, but totally that was a good socal, thank you. Oh man, it's super fun to be able to see all of those differences and all of those similarities, like when you travel, that's you know where that all happens and I feel like with solo travel you get to be able to dive in I don't know in a way that's comfortable for you and a pace that's comfortable for you.

Speaker 2: 31:40

But like yeah what kind of compelled you? Yeah, what kind of compelled you. I know we've talked about this a 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 always say 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 was like my 40th birthday trip and it's so fabulous. And I come back and a couple years into it, a friend of mine, she says to me I'm going to peru and my first thought this person is super la. My first thought was I don't think they're gonna let her in I don't even know why that even appeared in my head.

Speaker 4: 32:38

I was like they're gonna deny her. And I was like you. And then I thought to my second myself you want to go to Peru. And she goes, no, not your Peru, my Peru. And I'm like, well, where's your Peru? She goes New Mexico and I'm like, how is New Mexico Peru?

Speaker 1: 32:54

Right, I'm trying to follow the thought pattern, I realize they're not strong geography 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 and turquoise and silver. I don't do that. And I was like you're so LA? This is hysterical. And I was like, okay, I tried to take her seriously. I was like we'll prepare you, let's go buy a pair of jeans like their kind of jeans. They're going to buy you some cowboy boots, so you're prepared and we're gonna try on some silver before you go, and I may even loan you some silver with turquoise turquoise in it.

Speaker 4: 33:31

She came back a different person, come on. She danced with cowboys and the culture down there. She did a shot of tequila, she did all the things that were not new york in la, and her lotus started 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.

Speaker 4: 34:00

Now this is a total new york, la lady, she doesn't go to places like that. She is now going. She is so excited, she's so prepared for it. She's since gone to Italy by herself. She now knows the joy of solo travel. She now knows the art of solo travel. She's so great at. Just she sits down at a restaurant and by the time she leaves, the owner is asking her to stay with them and she knows every single person in the restaurant. She's that kind of LA New York gal 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, she felt 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 came back healthier, happier, better, more solid and a stronger woman every time I came back and she watched it and so once her husband passed away, she had to realize it was okay to blossom into this woman, that she could, can be and how to live her life going forward.

Speaker 4: 35:08

Oh, it's been so exciting. 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 so inspiration benefits from solo travel the list goes on about some of those, and you just touched on more yeah, I've said so 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 people live in other spaces and you go, wow, that's, they're really happy. And you know what, while I was there in that space with them, I was happy. I really enjoyed that okay yeah it, 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 golden jubilee my 50th birthday, yeah, because I think, like the 50th, the queen had had her golden jubilee. I was like, well, this is my golden jubilee. This is my queen and I didn't have to tell people I was turning 50. I was like, well, anyway, 50. I was like anyway, so I was on that and I was in bhutan, which is a less visited country, so incredible. They're supposed to be the happiest place on earth.

Speaker 4: 36:12

That's their yep, that's their sort of motto, as well as their sort of accolade. And I was sitting with a gentleman that had previously been a monk and he had left the. He still was a caretaker of a temple and very, very old scrolls which we got to look at, and his wife and him and I want to do. So many people ask about American politics and I just wanted to open up the floor for what, whatever questions they might have. And I turned to the translator and I said by the way, you know they can ask me any questions. Do they have questions about our politics, our food, like, um, our relationship? You know how marriages work? Like what is it like to live in the United States for us? And he looks over at me and he starts laughing. He goes they don't know what the United States is. And I'm like wait what? And he goes they don't even know what the UK is, they don't know what that is. And I was like what they're like? They just got electricity, like you know, five years ago, and they just got TV a couple of years ago and they only get like three stations and it's all Bhutanese information. It's not like they're sequestered, they have no interest. They don't want McDonald's, they don't want Starbucks, they don't even want a stoplight. The stoplight was put in in the main roundabout. People went crazy. They took it down in 24 hours and the prestigious job of being the little white gloves was restored within 24 hours. They were no interest in our hullabaloo, because they're carbon neutral and we're like devastating our country and the world. It was so eye-opening. They know what China is because they're about 35 miles from the border, but beyond that, none. It was just totally irrelevant to their lifestyle and something that I've done in the past, which was really it's fun for me.

Speaker 4: 38:14

I ask often people what is your dream? And a lot of people sort of go what you know? That's a funny question. But then somebody answers it and 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 him Uncle. I said what is your dream? And he looked me squirt without missing a beat and he said I've always wanted to learn to write and the nephew, the translator, was like what? So I bought them a bunch of books like children's books and, you know, little work books and I sent it to them. He was so excited. Will he learn it perfectly? Maybe not, but he gets to start his dream, pursuing his dream Exactly, wow, exactly.

Speaker 4: 39:09

And I don't remember what her dream was, but she was more interested in my shoes. I had a pair of Skechers on and she and I were the exact same size. Oh, come on. So she's now got two pairs of Skechers, which I often leave in countries that I go to. I love Skechers so much. And she actually is so excited. Like she walks around all over the neighborhood and all over the town with her Skechers and people are like where'd you get those shoes? And they're brightly colored.

Speaker 4: 39:38

It's just so interesting, like I, people have said what their dreams are. They're really incredible answers.

Speaker 1: 39:46

So often we we never ask that yeah, you know, yeah, we think it has to be this unattainable.

Speaker 4: 39:52

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

Speaker 4: 40:15

It's not always to be a celebrity or to be this or that. Sometimes it's very simple to be 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 I went into the airport shop and there were all these like workbooks on for kids, like fun things for kids to do on the plane. So my joy wrapped it up, I gave it to the person. I said I'm gonna call someone, they're gonna stop by here in two days time and they're going to 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 with passions

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 like to dream about and pursue. I wanted to know, when you are filming and you're having to you're talking about solo travel when you're filming, but you have a crew with you yeah, so bringing all of that together, 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 when you have a crew? Yeah, you're cheating, it doesn't count, I am, I am and I'm so glad you asked me that because I actually solo traveled for seven and a half weeks.

Speaker 4: 41:34

I did that trip by myself and then I went back. I think it was one of those things as a career filmmaker, I was on this trip and it's hard not to meet someone and the second I shake their hand. I'm like they'd be good on camera. You know, like my producer mind is like yep, oh, I got that shot, I got that shot. And so I did the seven and a half weeks alone, as a solo traveler. And then I went back and I recaptured some of that and what the real magic of filmmaking is. I went and expected really a repeat of what I had done. I didn't get that. I got more For the places that I went back to, got more like, in particular, the train when I went back to in season two, when I go up to the Hanoi train, it was like we're just going there for coffee, whatever. This really cool train street where the train comes and you, you move your table so the train can pass by and then you put your table back down it.

Speaker 4: 42:36

It's insane, but what ended up happening? That's where I met the tour guide for the woman to the US veteran to go meet the Vietnamese veteran. I mean, that is filmmaking goldmine. And then also, something that I'm always excited about is a key thing whether I'm interviewing a local, interviewing a fellow solo traveler which is a repeated segment on all the episodes or I'm just walking around talking to people experiencing something, it is so important for that camera to disappear in the background for people to really be themselves and if, like with Pat, the us veteran is, talk long enough and get them focused on the connection in the conversation to let the camera disappear.

Speaker 4: 43:28

Yeah, and, and that was really the gold mine of going back with a crew, but having had, having already been there and experiencing, or really walking the walk myself the first go around, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's neat.

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 tips and 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 yourself up for success, then? One of the number one things I do is first of all, in today's world, we all have an. We all have a mobile phone of some sort. In particular, a lot of people have iPhones. Share your location with a trusted friend or family member. It's just so easy to do, and why not right? Number two always have a color copy of your passport, in two ways. One and I don't know why, but embassies seem to like color copies more than just black and white have it digital on your phone. Send it to yourself so that you can access it anywhere, at any time, on any computer. Have a digital, have a color copy and put it in a Ziploc bag, so if your bag gets wet you still 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 digital copy, all right, and then next always know where the embassies are in the countries that you're going to. It sounds silly, but it can really pay off, because I was in a situation once where I lost everything. I lost every single thing. All I had was this hidden Amex card, but the closest Amex office where I could have gotten cash was over 1,000 miles away. Holy smokes, yeah. So it's like how am I going to get 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 to get there, to get a long story, everything worked out, but know where that embassy is because, quite frankly, you're gonna have to get there if you've lost your passport.

Speaker 4: 45:34

It's just no and it just again. You're setting yourself up for success. Um, always, always, always, carry your medicines. But, like with thailand, make sure you're not carrying narcotics. You just don't want to bring narcotics into a lot of countries, but carry the stuff that you know works. If you know one aspirin type works better than another, carry it have, you're not going to find it. For example, I was deep, deep, deep into the Amazon like not getting out if you don't have a boat kind of place and I got really, really ill. But in my little travel case I had exactly what I needed and it was. And you can ask your doctor for a couple of refills for travel prescriptions to take with you and boom, I was better because I had it really accessible. You just want to be prepared. If you over-prepare, you're possibly going to enjoy a little bit more.

Speaker 1: 46:31

Well, and just to that point, finland. So we were just in Finland and I got some kind of a little bug on the airplane, as can happen. And so we got there and I thought, boy, I could really use some NyQuil, because we have to teach a whole week with teenagers and I've got to get some sleep. You're not going to find NyQuil anywhere in Europe, pretty much Right. And so we go to the OpDec and we're like, hey, we're looking for, for something, this thing NyQuil. They look it up and they find all the drugs in it. And we spent right at 200 American 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 copy making stuffy head so you can 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 what you need.

Speaker 4: 47:25

Yeah, take what you need. And I think, in terms of my number 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're going like you're walking from point a to point b in paris if you 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 on your 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 know everything going on in town and they generally know where they're going, right?

Speaker 4: 48:10

that's awesome or if you are gonna look at your phone, pretend you're just checking email. It's all about your stance. But be cognizant and be aware. And this is not a proven safety tactic, but I will tell you if I think I'm not in a safe area. I look every person in the eye and 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 you doing, it's like how you doing, it's that New York, how you doing? Yeah, how you doing. It's really intimidating. And if you think there's a guy following you or two guys, I turn around, I look at them, I establish that I know exactly what they look and then I physically part them. I just whip around and go right back and they're so aghast because they're now the chased and I'm chasing them and it throws them off for game and, quite frankly, they just don't need the hard target, they want the easy target exactly right and so really own your space, whether you're traveling in a group or anything, and turn around and you know, be able to identify them and intimidate them.

Speaker 1: 49:17

Yeah, that it's a crazy example, but I got stops. I have been stopped so many times in department stores and people say excuse me, can you help me? I'm looking for yeah, I don't work here. Oh, you were walking around so confidently 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 bearings and 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 way people treat you yes, yes, absolutely all right, you have done a show and are doing a show about solo travel, but you also have 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 with some people in asia to do a couple episodes over there, maybe a full season. I started it off actually I was inspired by triple a, believe it or not. Um, they have a thing called day trips. It's in their westways magazine I used to.

Speaker 2: 50:35

We are hoping to have them on our episode at some point, because they Because they are a goldmine.

Speaker 4: 50:41

They are. We talked about goldmines today. They're a goldmine of information. Yes.

Speaker 4: 50:46

And so I was inspired by their day trips and I originally created a whole season based off California and then I realized, wait, this is a fabulous travel format and then I can expand it into other territories, other countries, and it really goes into the niche neighborhoods and looks so for season one, believe it or not, or episode one and two. We go to Norco, california, and El Segundo, california and most people look at me and have never been to either and El Segundo is literally LAX. People are oh that's where.

Speaker 4: 51:23

LAX is yes yes but I'm telling you they have a brewery to it, then the airport there is.

Speaker 4: 51:30

In fact it was like the hotspot in the 1900s. I mean, women from downtown LA would take an electric car. It was the women's car club electric women's car club. They go from downtown to el segundo have tea and go back to la in like 1907 or 1915, somewhere like that, and it was eventually chevron moved in. I believe it's either chevron or exxon and they're a big oil place. But I actually talked to a guy who would get on his parents' wagon with horses and go from like Culver City area in their wagon and go work the day in El Segundo and back. There's deep history there and there's one of the best car museums I've ever seen in the world and so if you check out the episode it's streaming on YouTube right now you can see these two really incredible places 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 really neat okay you have in your solo travel. Show me myself in the world you do packing with pamela. Yes, If you were only able to pack three things if you had to 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 covers it all and you can use lipstick as eyeshadow blush, and lipstick can't go without mascara and a bathing suit. You know you're gonna have fun. 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 of the funny. I'll tell you a funny story and a life-changing story. So one of the funniest stories is actually took place when I was about 19, living in japan. Um and I was at a homestay and the little boy didn't speak any English, but he was learning English in school. They learn it from a small age and he didn't know enough English verbally to speak in actual words and I didn't know at the time. I didn't know Japanese to speak in actual words. So I asked him to imitate English. Like what does an american sound like to you? Like, not only does he have it down pat, but he has to get up. And he gets up and he looks like john wayne. He just moves into the john wayne stance and he's like and he's got this, like he's holding two gunslinging things and I'm dying with laughter over this whole thing. And then I realize, like one, he sounds like the people on the other side of the phone with Snoopy.

Speaker 4: 55:11

The wah, wah, wah or Charlie Brown's teacher, exactly, exactly, or his mom, lucy's mom. And two, he looks exactly like John Wayne. I'm like where did this kid get this? And it's just so funny. And then I did the same for him and look like some samurai, like about to like hack somebody or like, oh, like. I was sort of like the comical Japanese person and we still laugh about it today. It's just so funny how other cultures receive other cultures and how fun it can really be if we 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 laughed harder in my life than when he imitated an american. It was great. And he was trad, wayne and snoopy awesome.

Speaker 4: 56:08

Yeah, I will tell you, the most life-changing moment was um kind of happened twice. Once was I went to africa and I was meeting my boyfriend there at my boyfriend at the time and he's like okay, no jewelry. And I was like okay. And then, like right before I get on the plane, he calls me. He's like so, no jewelry, right? I was like well, yeah, but like oh, I just have these little. And he goes no, no, no jewelry. Not where're going? I'm telling you, no jewelry. And I'm like oh.

Speaker 4: 56:42

And I got on the plane and I realized I was stripped of my clothes, I was stripped of my jewelry, I was stripped of all these things that we identify ourselves with, that we show up to a new connection or relationship with.

Speaker 4: 56:58

That tells this person all sorts of things about us the clothes we choose, the jewelry we choose, how we wear our hair, all these small things that fit into our conversation. And I also did this when I went to Peru and suddenly I realized that people I met met me and connected with me and liked me just for me. They didn't know what clothes I owned or didn't. They didn't know they didn't see identify me by my jewelry, by my car, by my what school I went to nothing, what job I had. It was just me and that was an unbelievably liberating moment in my life and I then realized I was meeting other travelers, other solo travelers in all of these countries, just sitting around campfires, meeting each other 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 to be friends then and some of them have stayed friends and stripping ourselves of all those identifying things, that baggage 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 this is 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's like a huggable moment oh good, virtual, I want to go back to Japan.

Speaker 2: 58:40

Okay, you talked about your funny story in Japan. So we have a podcast. We have a couple podcast episodes where we interviewed, because we haven't been there yet Yet, yeah, but we find that a lot of our Finnish friends go to Finland, our Finnish friends go to Japan, and so we were like what is, why are all these Finnish people going to.

Speaker 2: 59:05

Japan, like why you know, and so we we have. We have a couple episodes. We'll put those in the show notes along with all Pamela's links to all her things, so you can find her we talked about, like you know, it's so interesting. We go with our expectation like if, as we're americans, we come to each country as an american right, they're coming to japan as fins and so it's just kind of fun to get like the different perspective of how they see japan how did?

Speaker 2: 59:35

they experience it. So you, as an american, what were some of the things that were really great about Japan, and or those who are going to be traveling to Japan, what kind of pointers or insights would you have to share?

Speaker 4: 59:49

Yes, great question, and it's multifaceted. For one, japan in 2024 was listed as, I believe, the top country in the world. I think it was Travel and Leisure named it as the top country in the world to travel to. Wow, and there rightfully. So I mean, japan has got it going on.

Speaker 1: 1:00:09

We've only heard good things from everyone who's been there.

Speaker 4: 1:00:11

Yeah, yeah, it is an incredible place. I mean when I was there, when I was there in the 80s and 90s, it was already incredible and it's just expanded upon that One. It's very, very easy to get around. It's very safe to get around. You have the entire metropolitan Tokyo train, the whole inner working. It is so easy to navigate and there's always professional people working in the train stations, whether it's to double check before the train doors close, whatever it is. They just are so organized, great safety features and easy to navigate. So that's number one. Two, the people are so welcoming.

Speaker 4: 1:01:00

Like I said, most everybody speaks English. They're a really fun culture and, of course, they are so deep rooted in their culture. It's been such an old culture. Obviously, chinese is a little bit older, but the Japanese culture is so pure and clear, from their food to their entertainment, their traditions. It's really unique.

Speaker 4: 1:01:30

For me it was different because I grew up in Hawaii and so going, quite honestly, from me going to Japan, I was like I'm at home with a little bit, a little bit more of the Japanese culture, 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 that wasn't different. I understood the hierarchy that I should uh, so that wasn't different. I understood the hierarchy that I should adhere to in terms of bowing, in terms of greeting people and greeting them in the order that you know. If you're elder, meeting an elder. We don't really do that as much anymore in the American culture, but I was already familiar with it, so it worked well, it was very easy and it worked well for me.

Speaker 4: 1:02:21

Um, the couple fun things like, besides the navigation of the trains, which are so easy to navigate and you can take the shinkansen, which is the bullet train, all over japan and going up to hokkaido, which is the northern island, it's the skiing up there is incredible, like snow skiing, snow skiing. They have incredible resorts up there. Um, every nara, which is a really unique place. Closer down south you have yukota. It's so many incredible places to discover in japan. Obviously, sapporo beer is up in hokkaido. There is something for everyone and it's a huge place for foodies.

Speaker 4: 1:02:59

Something that people may not realize is that Japan often people go to meals alone. So Japanese restaurants have now kind of changed their menu and their seating to be more single solo diner friendly. So if you're a solo traveler, japan's a great place to really jump into the foodie scene, not only because it's built into the culture, but also you know, you think of all the sushi bars. You get to really take time to take in those flavors You're not busy talking the whole meal and experience that. And of course, talk to your neighbor if you want to.

Speaker 4: 1:03:36

And then for another little tip for travelers heading to japan is remember we put all of our restaurants, quite frankly, at europe and america we put it on the ground floor. Um tokyo in particular, they're all high rise. So look at, like the fifth to the tenth floor. That's where all of your bars and your restaurants are going to be. So when you walk up, look up and you'll see all the names of all the restaurants, on whatever level they're on and we don't think to look for restaurants up there you're like right, you know there's nothing to eat in this town, yeah, look up.

Speaker 4: 1:04:12

So yeah, and you had uh, you have uh a podcast right about japan yes, you, yes, right, yeah.

Speaker 2: 1:04:20

So we'll put that in the show notes. Perfect.

Speaker 1: 1:04:22

Yeah, it's sort of a second person podcast.

Speaker 4: 1:04:26

Yeah, that's great, but Japan is number one this year.

Speaker 2: 1:04:29

So you talked about, with solo travel, to start small, yes, and you talked about how Hawaii kind of prepped you for that. So maybe if you want to go to Japan, you could start by going to Hawaii. Like, if you want to start small, go first to Hawaii and then to Japan, yeah, because you might get a little bit of those flavors and different things introduced. You lived in Hawaii, so tell us maybe some highlights and tips for Hawaii.

Speaker 4: 1:04:58

Hawaii is amazing. Of course it was the tips for Hawaii. Hawaii is amazing. Of course it was the kingdom of Hawaii and it is a truly magical, special place, they say. People typically, I think, live seven years longer, those who live in Hawaii. It's the volcanic, maybe the electrons in the air from the volcanoes. It's a special place, obviously, perhaps Pele and you lived in Oahu. I lived on the air from the volcanoes. It's a special place, obviously, perhaps Pele.

Speaker 2: 1:05:21

And you lived in Oahu.

Speaker 4: 1:05:23

I lived on the island of Oahu, which, for a lot of people, what we'll say is the island of Oahu, where Honolulu is the capital, that's the main city, or the beach of Waikiki. That's all Oahu.

Speaker 4: 1:05:36

If you go in February, you will see a very large contingent of Japanese tourists. That's their big season, february, and secondarily August. So if you want a little entree into Asia, go in February and you'll get both the Hawaiian culture and the Japanese culture. One of my favorite times to go to 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 clear. It is the best weather.

Speaker 4: 1:06:10

I think September is the best time to go for the whole year and really dive into the culture, the Hawaiian culture, eat the food, try the food and experience all the cultures that now make up Hawaii, which is so much of Micronesia, the Polynesian cultures, and perhaps go to the Polynesian Cultural Center which is on the far side of Oahu. Go over to the North Shore, because I think really experiencing the food and the culture and the language from that makeup Hawaii now is really important. And, of course, one of the best places go to the seat of the Hawaiian kingdom, which is the palace and the Bishop Museum, which is just right downtown in Honolulu. Those are not not to be missed. And something new that a lot of people don't know is, they've all heard of Hanauma Bay, which is Hanauma Bay, queens Bay. You now have to have reservations and generally like a couple months in advance and people don't know that.

Speaker 2: 1:07:09

So you don't want to make this a last minute trip.

Speaker 4: 1:07:11

If you go there, no, if you're going there and if you can have a cocktail or a buffet meal, or even the hula show at the Royal Hawaiian, which is the oldest hotel. In fact, their 100-year anniversary is coming up, I think in 2026 or 2027. Or 2025, it's not to be missed.

Speaker 1: 1:07:31

Oh, that would be a very cool place to stay.

Speaker 2: 1:07:33

Southwest flies to Hawaii, and so that makes it much easier and much more tangible. But you also have an insight, right.

Speaker 4: 1:07:43

Yeah, so this week, as of recording this, hawaiian and Alaska are merging and that is huge and we are at the late end of 2024 right now, when we're recording this.

Speaker 4: 1:07:55

So you've got two big conglomerates. Now Hawaiian is linked to Japan Airlines. You've got Alaska Airlines. You've just opened up conglomerates. Now Hawaiian is linked to Japan Airlines. You've got Alaska Airlines. You've just opened up the whole West Coast and then subsequently into Asia. So if you have Alaska points or you have Hawaiian points I don't know, I've heard that the points might be one-to-one, but it's a huge bonus. So you're opening a whole new opportunity to really see the Hawaiian Islands, see Asia, the whole West Coast with Alaska Airlines and, quite frankly, they're amazing. They are amazing. I've been with another airline for the last literally 30 years and this year I started flying Alaska for a couple trips and I'm like what? What have I been doing? This is amazing.

Speaker 4: 1:08:39

Literally, you walk on and they're like what, what have I been doing? This is amazing. Literally you walk on and they're like hi, so great to have you. And you're like wait, what it's? It's night and day. I, I'm, literally, I'm. I was blown away. My sister and I thought it was a joke at first, and then we did it, yeah, and then now I've been on like five flights and literally they're like it. It made it made travel enjoyable again. That's how they treat you right? Your vacation starts when you get to the airport and check in.

Speaker 1: 1:09:11

It used to be that way, right?

Speaker 4: 1:09:12

yes, oh my, I mean, it's night and day and I don't work for them.

Speaker 5: 1:09:16

I've never worked for them, but I'm telling you it was amazing.

Speaker 4: 1:09:20

So we get to fly them this is huge yeah, we've.

Speaker 2: 1:09:23

We've had like a couple flights and they were fine you know, I mean they I didn't have any issues or problems, or I don't know they're homegrown and they've stuck that way.

Speaker 4: 1:09:33

They, they, they know who butters their bread and it's the people and they're gonna stick that way. I don't speak for them, but that was my take. That's what I'm believing. Well, I talked to people. I was like gosh, why are you guys so nice? And they're like because our president's nice, our CEO's nice. And our bosses are nice.

Speaker 1: 1:09:53

They cast the vision and we walk it out Exactly.

Speaker 4: 1:09:55

Exactly, they're respected and they're listened to. Oh my gosh, I spoke to this operator and she was just so nice and she was talking and she lived up in Oregon and I was like, wow, you're like a really happy person and she goes. Well, I got a hug from the CEO I was like CEOs like that just walked up and hugged her and thanked her for her service and that meant the world to this woman and she goes well, well I'm just giving you a hug through the phone and I don't know why I'm talking with a southern accent, but she had one and I was like, wow, that's like they're, that's who they are yeah, so, yeah, that's great

Speaker 2: 1:10:29

so now now you can use your miles to get that's right yeah yep, it's like pan am all over where it's enjoyable travel. Yes, thank you.

Speaker 4: 1:10:39

Any other final closing thoughts or yeah, you know, make your bucket list. You live for the present and travel with joy. That's sort of my closing thought. I truly believe travel changes lives.

Speaker 1: 1:11:00

Yes.

Speaker 4: 1:11:00

I agree and go out there and get it.

Speaker 2: 1:11:03

yeah, I love it that's why we're all here. Well, thank you so much, pamela. It has been so fun talking with you yes oh um. You're gonna find her at yes, pamela holtcom.

Speaker 4: 1:11:15

Um, pamela hololtcom, pamelaholtcom, you're going to find her at PamelaHoltcom. And on socials, at ThePamelaHolt, on Instagram, twitter, facebook, you name it. So y'all get on there and follow her.

Speaker 2: 1:11:31

All that will be in the show notes.

Speaker 4: 1:11:32

And me myself and the world. The Art of Solo Travel is on Amazon Prime, GoTraveler, my home and Tubi and a lot of different platforms so you can actually stream it for free on GoTraveler and if you have Amazon Prime, you can stream season one and two.

Speaker 1: 1:11:49

Yeah well, congratulations, that's awesome, Thank you, looking forward to the next one. Thank you, Americana baby.

Speaker 2: 1:11:58

Okay, y'all, it is time for our trivia. We have been doing this all year, and so we have to wrap up the year with these world trivia questions, all right? So, pamela, you get to be the proud answerer of said questions. All right, hopefully, I get one right to be the proud answerer of said questions. All right.

Speaker 2: 1:12:15

Hopefully I get one right. I bet you'll get at least one right, okay. First question which waterfall can 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 the rest wrong because you already got your one right, okay. Which US state is the movie Fargo set in?

Speaker 5: 1:12:42

Fargo, South Dakota.

Speaker 2: 1:12:44

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 show Breaking Bad set in?

Speaker 5: 1:13:06

I've never seen the show, but I think it's Nevada. In my head it had something to do with Las Vegas, or some drug running or something.

Speaker 2: 1:13:15

Right, you are geographically close. It is where I was born, new Mexico. New Mexico yes, that's right Now. I haven't seen the show either. Everyone in the world says it's so great and that it's such a great show, rory, and I have never watched it. But everybody has told me you have to watch because it's great writing blah, blah blah, but also because it's filmed in Albuquerque, which is where I grew up, and so that's what I know. That one, but New Mexico, New Mexico, thank you. Okay, which next one? Which country does?

Speaker 5: 1:13:56

Which country does Biltong originate from Biltong?

Speaker 2: 1:14:06

The Philippines Biltong, biltong.

Speaker 5: 1:14:11

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: 1:14:16

Philippines or Malaysia. The answer is South Africa. Which country does Biltong originate from? That's why I'm like am I reading this? I have never heard. I don't even know what that is. We're gonna look look up biltong folks. Okay, hold on Chat. G-b-t, b-i-l-t-o-n-g.

Speaker 5: 1:14:45

Hey Chatty, can you give us the background on?

Speaker 2: 1:14:47

biltong, which is from South Africa. Hey there, sure thing. Biltong is a traditional South African snack made from dried, cured meat usually beef, but game.

Speaker 4: 1:14:57

meats like ostrich or kudu are also used. Oh yeah, thank you. Alright, of course I actually have had biltong, now that I think about it, when I was in South Africa.

Speaker 2: 1:15:05

Yes, and it was kudu biltong. Okay, basically it's beef jerky, okay, great. Well, since I'm'm vegetarian, I have no clue. So there you go. Okay, you good for two more. Yeah, absolutely, I love trivia. Great, all right. From which country does the kebab originate? So we're staying on this meat theme? Now, these were just randomly chosen. Which country does the kebab originate? From which country?

Speaker 5: 1:15:35

I want to randomly say Morocco.

Speaker 2: 1:15:38

You are not far from the answer. You are not geographically far from the answer Algeria, no, okay, so it is okay. Here's a clue. We just had this holiday and the country is the name of a poultry that you might eat during the holiday we just had. We just had Thanksgiving.

Speaker 4: 1:16:06

Yes, so what do you know? We had turkey, thank you.

Speaker 5: 1:16:10

The cup of hub is from Turkey. If you don't know it, at least you can learn it.

Speaker 2: 1:16:15

I'm going to know that. I'm going to tell that every Thanksgiving. Now I love it, Okay. Last one Okay, I have no idea about this one. All right, by the way.

Speaker 4: 1:16:28

I love that I just talked through that answer with you like I was on that TV show where you get to phone a friend.

Speaker 2: 1:16:35

Right, right, yeah, I love that. That's great, all right, around a thousand statues called Moai M-O-A-I this is a in parentheses created by the early Rapa Nui people, by the early Rapa Nui people can be found on which 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 able to answer this, because you are the genius, you are the master travel genius.

Speaker 4: 1:17:12

Well, I think I got what? Two or three out of six.

Speaker 2: 1:17:17

You did great. No, you got like four out of six. Not that we're counting.

Speaker 5: 1:17:22

I've now learned about the kebabs from Turkey. That's a random one, and biltong.

Speaker 2: 1:17:26

Is that what it's called? I still don't remember what it's called Biltong, biltong, it's beef jerky.

Speaker 4: 1:17:33

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 on shows.

Speaker 5: 1:17:44

Well, there you go.

Speaker 2: 1:17:44

That's why, in my head, I thought the first thing I thought of Filipinos yeah, but it is. It's South Africa. Well, there you go. Amazing. Do you want a bonus? Question you want a bonus question.

Speaker 5: 1:17:55

I do because I love him so much.

Speaker 2: 1:17:57

Okay, you are so lucky because I happen to have the box right here. I would have had to gone to the other room, is that okay? Okay, so, just like all the others, we just randomly choose here. Pick a card, pick a card. That one choose here. 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't know any of these. This is why I'm asking you I don't know. Okay, ready, the 2008 movie Rambo is set in which country.

Speaker 4: 1:18:37

Oh, 2000.wait the original Rambo. The 2008 movie. I think it's in Cambodia or Vietnam.

Speaker 2: 1:18:43

Close.

Speaker 5: 1:18:45

What is it?

Speaker 2: 1:18:46

Burma.

Speaker 4: 1:18:48

Burma Is that but I think they filmed it in Thailand.

Speaker 5: 1:18:52

I don't think they filmed it, you're right, there's a different machine where they I have to go look it up Burma.

Speaker 2: 1:18:57

What were they doing in Burma? I don't know, I haven't seen it, I guess.

Speaker 5: 1:19:03

Rambo would have been in, like Vietnam or something.

Speaker 2: 1:19:05

See, I'm telling you I wouldn't have got that one. Okay, here's your bonus question the opening scene. This is all about movies. The opening scene of Love Actually was filmed at which airport?

Speaker 4: 1:19:18

Heathrow and it's my favorite movie ever, and actually this week on my social media we're doing set jetting to Love Actually because it's the best movie ever in the world.

Speaker 2: 1:19:33

There you go I love it so much.

Speaker 5: 1:19:36

You are so great. Perfect ending question.

Speaker 2: 1:19:39

Well, so people now need to watch your set. Jetting yes.

Speaker 5: 1:19:44

You can set jet to Love Actually. We'll show you all the places that they filmed. There's a little bit in Italy, but mostly England love it.

Speaker 2: 1:19:54

Well, you go, girl. Well, it's like you fed that question to me to feed to you, but you didn't. We randomly drew that amazing well Pamela's travel my life yes, well, you are amazing, you are a genius. Thank you so much for inspiring us on this episode and thank you for sharing your Christmas season with us, and we really appreciate you and look forward to continue to continuing to follow you on Instagram and on your travel shows, and we are super excited to just get to know you better and we look forward to seeing more of you we are all part of the traveling community, yay.

Speaker 2: 1:20:36

Thanks again, pamela and y'all. I just want to quickly remind you please hop over to our show notes and help support us by shopping for some fun travel essentials with some of our affiliate links that we are going to be mentioning in the show notes, especially Clean Canteen, yuko Gear, fermu. Check those out Again. It's no additional cost to you. The pricing isn't higher if you use our link, so there's no additional cost to you. It just helps support us on the back end, so we really appreciate you checking that out. So y'all, thank you so much for joining us. We want to wish you a very Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Happy New Year's Eve. Happy Christmasukkah. Happy New Year's Eve. Happy Christmas Eve, happy New Year's. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season, a wonderful winter and a wonderful December.

Speaker 4: 1:21:22

Oh my gosh, you're like goodbye makes me want to sing a Christmas song.

Speaker 5: 1:21:28

Can we do Jingle Bells?

Speaker 4: 1:21:29

I know Jingle Bells. Yeah, let's do it.

Speaker 5: 1:21:32

You ready? A five got Jingle Bells.

Speaker 4: 1:21:32

Yeah, let's do it. We're all close to this. Okay, let me come up. You ready.

Speaker 5: 1:21:35

Yep.

Speaker 4: 1:21:35

A five, six, seven okay.

Speaker 5: 1:21:37

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh. Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.

Speaker 4: 1:22:02

Woo, merry Christmas, merry Christmas everyone Merry Christmas.

Speaker 2: 1:22:07

We hope we've inspired you this episode, so join us next time. Please subscribe to rate and share our podcast with your friends or you know whomever? And please like and follow us on Instagram, youtube and Facebook.

Speaker 1: 1:22:18

We are also on X and on all social platforms. We are at TheRomies, that's T-H-E-R-O-A-M-I-E-S, and our main hub is our website.

Speaker 2: 1:22:29

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.