Who wants to join me on the Paul Gauguin in Tahiti and Bora Bora?

January 24, 2024 by Sonia Marsh 9 Comments

A few months ago, when I was having a difficult time dealing with the stress of mental illness with my son, I decided to book a trip. This is what I tend to do when I’m fed up, and need a break.

I have always been fascinated by the Paul Gauguin ship to Tahiti, Bora Bora and the Society islands of French Polynesia, so why not find out more about the ship.

I was curious if they offered “no single supplement” fares and was surprised to hear that they do offer cabins for solo singles travelling. Here is a recent list of their trips with no single supplement. I started my research watching You Tube videos describing the Paul Gauguin ship and the islands I’ll be visiting during my 10-day cruise.

The ship only has 330 guests and 209 crew members. It has 165 staterooms and suites and a spa and 3 restaurants. What I am looking forward to is the exclusivity, the all inclusive program, all drinks and tips are included and only the excursions are extra.

What’s included on the Paul Gauguin cruise?

All shipboard meals, in your choice of venues
Complimentary 24-hour room service
Complimentary beverages, including select wines and spirits, beers, soft drinks, bottled water, and hot beverages served throughout the ship
In-room refrigerator replenished daily with soft drinks, beer, and bottled water
All shipboard entertainment, including our troupe of Polynesian performers and live music in the evenings
Presentations by onboard experts, and select sailings feature guest hosts
Onboard gratuities for room stewards, dining and bar staff
Watersports, including complimentary kayaking and paddleboarding from our marina or destination beaches
Complimentary snorkel gear for use throughout the cruise
Use of our secluded, white-sand beach in Bora Bora*
A day on our private islet, Motu Mahana, off the coast of Taha’a, featuring snorkeling, watersports, a barbecue, full bar service, and Polynesian hospitality (on select voyages)
Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship

Video explaining what to expect on a Paul Gaugain Cruise

So this morning I landed in Papeete, Tahiti, and this afternoon, I board the Paul Gauguin and will update you on my impressions. I hope you follow my adventure on this gorgeous ship.

Māuruuru, (Thank you.) Let me know what you’d like to find out in the comments section below.

My Plans for 2019-A Time for Reflection

December 23, 2018 by Sonia Marsh 7 Comments

I love the end of the year as it’s a time for reflection and making plans for the year ahead.

In my case, I add travel to the mix, as this enables me to see life from a different perspective; something I always value as I get new insights into the direction I want my life to take.

This time, I’m off to London, Paris and Copenhagen, to spend time with family and childhood friends, and I plan to bounce my ideas off them.

2018 brought three major changes to my life.

A Place to Call Home

The biggest change was getting my own place to live. Since 2015, I’ve rented a room in a friend’s house. I then moved to my Peace Corps rondavel in Lesotho, and finally returned in January 2017, to stay with my friend, Heidi, once again.

Finding a home happened while I was trying to kill time. I walked into a real estate office in a 55+ community, not expecting to find anything, as most of the condos date from the 70’s and are in need of repairs.

“Do you have a two-bedroom, 2-bath completely renovated condo?” I asked the realtor.

“We have one that has just been listed. Would you like to see it?”

“Why not?” I said, not knowing that the minute I walked in, it would feel like “home” for the first time since my divorce.

From that moment on, I couldn’t stop dreaming about this condo and put in an offer. The timing was perfect as it was close to Christmas 2017, and no one else was looking at homes during the holidays.

I was the only one who put in an offer and I moved into my new condo in March 2018.

I love having my own place and being independent. I furnished it the way I’ve always wanted my place to be: clutter-free and modern.

I didn’t realize what I’d been missing and how important it was for me to have a place I could call “home.” When I traveled, I didn’t look forward to coming back as I didn’t have a place to call “home.” Now I do, and I feel more secure.

My Own Travel Club

The 2nd major change is starting my “Travel with a Purpose” Club in the 55+ community where I live.

The purpose of starting my club is to inspire people to travel with a purpose and to remove any fear of travel. We are now on our 4th meeting, and the club is growing in popularity. I run it once a month, and invite presentations from inspiring speakers who have traveled. You can view the dates and location of upcoming meetings here.

Our speaker on January 17th is going to explain: “How to Pack Efficiently-One Week/One Month/One Carry-On.”

Leading My First Trip to Africa

I led my first trip to Kenya in October, with a theme-focused Safari where we combined helping orphans, visiting their school, and giving back to the African Child Foundation. All 12 women bonded and we have become close friends, getting together once a month since our trip to Kenya.

I’m planning other Safaris with a theme such as elephant and rhino conservation-educational Safaris, writers’ retreats, quilting group Safaris and more.

Several people seem interested in river cruises in Europe. What are your travel dreams for the future? Please let me know.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and may your 2019 be the best you want it to be.

Arriving at Heathrow airport, London, December 2018

How Do You Keep Your Sense of Wonder?

September 23, 2018 by Sonia Marsh 1 Comment

In my mind, a sense of wonder starts with curiosity: something we’re all born with. The question I ask myself is: How can we keep that sense of wonder as we grow older?

Young children are constantly learning something new: how to read, how to tie their shoes, how to ride a bicycle. It’s not surprising that if we don’t make a conscious effort to keep a sense of curiosity and wonder, life may seem mundane as we grow older.

When I lived in Lesotho, I listened to BBC World on my small radio, and was interested in hearing how Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, reflected on her travels abroad. The interviewer commented on how brave Elizabeth was to uproot her life and move alone to Italy, India and Bali, for one year. Elizabeth replied that she didn’t think she was brave, but simply curious about life and other people.

Another person I admire is Maria Shriver. She recently wrote in her blog, “Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper,” about how she took a one-month break from work, and decided to focus on:

“Less busyness. Less intense thinking. More calm. More connection. More wonder.”

Shriver decided to travel to Africa with her youngest son, and her goal was to focus on:

the concept of wonder

“Wonder gets you out of your head. It feels less intense than thinking. It feels more stream of consciousness and more creative. It actually feels freeing and it allows one to connect more with oneself and others.

Wonder is what I felt as I drove across the vast, open Serengeti. I found myself wondering what it might be like to live there full time, either working in the conservation movement or working with the women I met who are trying to overcome deep poverty and build lives that their mothers could have never imagined.
The thing that I found interesting was how she found the right word to describe Africa. Wonder.” Maria Shriver

I feel a connection with Elizabeth Gilbert and Maria Shriver, in that I’m curious about other people, and always want to keep learning.

Some people are more curious, and thirsty for new experiences than others. I’ve always felt the need to get away from my daily routine in order to satisfy my sense of curiosity. I do this in the following ways:

On a small scale:

Speaking to someone new every day
Trying a new recipe
Reading a novel I wouldn’t normally read
Re-connecting with someone I haven’t spoken to in over a year
Joining a new group such as “Dining For Women”
Joining a TED Talks discussion group

On a larger scale:

Starting my new travel club
Traveling to new places
Leading my first trip to Kenya with ten women

I keep myself open to new opportunities.

How about you? How do you keep your sense of wonder? I’d love to hear.

Why I’m Starting Women Travel with a Purpose

May 30, 2018 by Sonia Marsh 8 Comments

It’s funny how situations in life can eventually lead to finding your purpose. Had my marriage not fizzled in 2015, I would not have joined the Peace Corps, and I certainly wouldn’t have thought about starting “Women Travel with a Purpose.”

I decided to start “Women Travel with a Purpose,” and lead trips to Africa with various themes such as “local culture, schools and village life,” “elephant and rhino conservation,” “culinary tasting tours in Africa,” and the latest theme is “Botanical Safaris” along the “Garden Route of South Africa.

How did I get the idea to start “Women Travel with a Purpose?”

During my service in Lesotho, women reached out to me and wanted to help the school and orphans in my village with books and clothing. I shared photos depicting children with holes in their sweaters and wearing shoes where the tips were cut off so feet could continue growing. The outpouring of kindness from so many women was overwhelming.

Women wanted to make a difference and to feel connected to the orphans at my school. I took photos of the children wearing their “new” clothes and shoes, and realized that women want to travel, experience something unique, and have a purpose attached to their trip.

When I returned to the U.S. last year, I had no idea what I would end up doing. Writing another memoir was the obvious answer, however, I also needed to support myself. Serendipity offered a career where I could do what I love: motivate women, inspire them to travel, take away their fear, and take them back to where we all originate from: Africa!

I’ve recently moved to a community in Laguna Woods, California with 18,000 residents 55 and over. I love it here, and feel that I can motivate women to follow me on themed trips to Africa.

I’ve designed a culinary-Safari for a small group of women to the pristine, Madikwe Game Reserve for the ultimate Safari and culinary experience at Jamala. There we will meet the award- winning chef Nico Verster, awarded the Best Safari cuisine in Africa 2014/2015. I tasted his exquisite cuisine and dined alfresco, beneath the brilliance of a million stars. Lions were lapping water on the other side of the water hole. Chef Nico will explain his Safaris and Spices cookbook where he offers cuisines from different countries in Africa.

Elephants at the water hole right in front of Jamala Lodge where we meet Chef Nico

Award-winning Chef, Nico Verster at Jamala Lodge in South Africa

“Food aficionados can indulge in modern gastronomic treats served with the chic colonial charm and grace that is unique to Jamala Madikwe. ” Cookbook, Savannah to Sea by Nico Verster.

I’m leading a themed trip together with Roz Berry, Director of the African Child Foundation, in Newport Beach, on September 30^th– October 7^th, 2018. Part of the proceeds will go back to helping the school in Nairobi, Kenya.

African Child Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya

We still have room for two ladies to join this trip. Please e-mail me at Sonia@SoniaMarsh.com if you’re interested in joining our small group on Safari. It will be a ton of fun while doing good at the same time. This is a trip with so many activities you’ll love. Check out the flyer on this post.

Lisa Hart producer of “This Day” TV show in Laguna Woods, California

I look forward to my interview with Lisa Hart tomorrow morning, May 31st, on the Laguna Woods TV show called, “This Day” at 8:30 a.m. Please watch as I talk about the Club I’m starting at Laguna Woods called, “Women Travel with a Purpose.” We are having our first meeting at 5 p.m. on June 11th, Club House #2 in the “Los Olivos” Room. The address is:

Get directions

Clubhouse 2, 24112 Moulton Pkwy, Laguna Woods, CA 92637

I’m going to share what “Travel with a Purpose” means, and your ideas are welcome. South African wine and cheese will be served, and some great slides from my recent trip to South Africa. Please e-mail me and come over and have some FUN!!! E-mail: (Sonia@SoniaMarsh.com)

New Life,New Career,New Passion

January 28, 2018 by Sonia Marsh 15 Comments

They often say that it takes a while to get re-settled into life after returning from the Peace Corps. For me, it was all about finding a career, and I honestly had no clue what to blog about during that process.

My life back in California was the same as most of my friends, and not as eventful as my adventures in Lesotho. I needed to feel comfortable in my skin, and find a new compass to follow.

In one year, since my return from the Peace Corps in January 2017, I have done some major changes:

Career
Travel
Passion: Women Travel With a Purpose (see below)

Career

I had no idea how to write a resume, and spent hours stressing over the latest formatting options, attending “Free” classes on how to write an effective resume, and lamented over why I wasn’t getting interviews.

I started taking classes in Excel, Outlook, etc, and a grant writing course. I updated my LinkedIn profile, and thought about anything I could potentially do:

Become a flight attendant
Work at a French cafe (since they require French speakers)
Work for a non-profit
Work at a University in the international students department
Fund-raising

Strangely enough, I did not need to stress, as my career found me. In fact that’s not quite true, my hairdresser shared my blog with a Zambian guy, Jim Holden, who just happened to be looking for an international person, who had lived around the world, and who could network, and create social media content for his Safari company. He was fascinated by my childhood in Nigeria, and my recent Lesotho life. Like me, he had lived in Nigeria, attended school in the U.K., and settled in California.

My new video reflects the focus of my updated website. No longer Peace Corps, but back in Africa.

Travel

Vivienne, Jim Holden and Sonia meeting the reps from the Blue Train at Indaba conference, May 2017

Within my first month of working for Holden Safaris in Newport Beach, I was back on a plane to Johannesburg. I was thrown straight into the world of Safaris, and wildlife conservation, meeting 30-50 suppliers, lodge owners, eco-tourism reps and flight operators at the annual Indaba Conference, held in Durban, South Africa. At the end of the first day, I felt mentally numb from information overload. We ran from one end of the convention center to the other, without a lunch break, and I took notes on Botswana and the gorgeous lodges we send our clients to on the Okavango delta, absorbing as much information as I could retain from the rep in twenty minutes, before rushing over to our next meeting with another supplier.

On safari in the Okavango delta, Botswana. Elephant having a mud bath.

After a week in Durban, our team went on a site inspection of Kwazulu Natal Province. For those interested in history, the Zulus and the battlefields, and elephant and rhino conservation, we put together an exclusive safari here.

I’ve been back twice since then, in August 2017, to Zambia and Zimbabwe, and in November, I experienced gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

Passion: Special Tour I’m Leading to Kenya for Women Only who want to travel, feel good, and make a difference

I’ve put together a special tour for women only called, “Women Travel With a Purpose.” September 30^th– October 7th, 2018.

Women Travel With a Purpose. Visit the African Child Foundation schools in Kenya.

I’m leading this trip to Kenya with Roz Berry, a Newport Beach resident and Director of the African Child Foundation: a non-profit run by volunteers to meet the needs, and transform the lives, of orphaned and vulnerable children in the slums outside Nairobi, Kenya. We have openings for 10 like-minded women. You can click on the link below, and hit the enter button to view the digital itinerary.

Women Travel With a Purpose-Exclusive Itinerary Specially Prepared For Women’s Group.

I hope you join me on this amazing trip to Kenya in October 2018, and e-mail me at: SoniaM@holdensafaris.com if you would like to find out more about this trip, or have an exclusive custom safari planned for you.