With 20-plus years of experience, Lynn’s learned a thing or two about life on the road. We asked Lynn to share with us what she has learned from traveling in both a video and a question-and-answer session.
about tcsExpedition Leader Lynn Garrison
Lynn Garrison
20 Questions with Lynn
1. I never leave home without my pillows. It makes all the difference with the different hotel rooms we are in and ensures I get a good night’s rest.
2. On my first TCS expedition, I rode with the luggage in a truck covered with a tarp through the desert in Jordan. We left the Aqaba airport as the sun was setting and arrived in Wadi Musa four hours later. My driver Muhammad did not speak English, and I did not speak Arabic and it didn’t matter. He played some of his favorite music on the drive. On the way back to the airport with the luggage on departure day, we drove by his home so that I could meet his family. It was an amazing adventure, and it made me fall in love with Arabic music, the culture, and the Middle East.
3. On our trips, one thing that never ceases to amaze me is how everyone packs too much. I always have a bit of room in my luggage to bring home some amazing things I might find along the way.
4. A place I thought I’d dislike, but I fell in love with was honestly, I don’t think there is a place I dislike. Each country is so unique and has wonderful things to discover.
5. My absolute favorite place in the world is impossible to name. I think Africa is my favorite continent. India is probably the most interesting country — so full of color and contrasts. Bali is gorgeous, and I love how art plays such a big role in its culture.
6. One place I haven’t seen yet, which I’m dying to visit is Antarctica. Additionally, there are many other places and countries I have yet to explore, and I look forward to experiencing as many as I can.
7. If I could travel with anyone, dead or alive, it would be Jesus. Now that would be interesting…
8. And we would definitely go to pretty much anywhere, because it is about the company and all the experiences you share with each another. I would, however, like to make a stop in our travels to the Whitsundays in Australia and sail, scuba dive, snorkel, camp out under the stars, skinny dip, barbecue, and talk.
9. The one moment from my travels that I will never, ever forget was this one time in Bariloche, Argentina. We went to an island in Nahual Huapi Lake and helped the children plant trees. Afterwards they took us on a walk through the forest to the other side of the island. One of our guides had grown up here and gone to school on the island.These children were unbelievable in who they already were and who they were becoming. Such conscious and aware human beings at such a young age. It was so gratifying and humbling at the same time…simply magical.
10. While traveling, I’ve bought carpets from Iran, Turkey and India, silk and pashmina textiles from India. Pottery from the Amazon, and art from the Sepik River, to name a few. I love textiles!. But the best things I bring home are the new friendships I make along the way.
11. My favorite place to shop is India. Additionally, any shopping in Southeast Asia is fabulous. My second favorite is Morocco.
12. Some of my favorite countries to eat in are India and Morocco.
13. When I get home from a trip, the first thing I do is drink a big glass of water and look at the pile of mail on the dining room table and sigh. If I’m home early in the day, I like to unpack and do laundry…so I can relax and sink in to being home.
14. The best way to get over jet lag is to go to bed before midnight but after 9 p.m. I always try to hold out until 11 p.m. Getting fresh air really helps. Eating on the time zone schedule also helps the body to adjust.
15. If you get motion sickness, you should carry crystallized ginger candy. If you absolutely have to take the non-drowsy Dramamine or Bonine, just take half a pill. (I also have a gallons sized zip lock baggie in my backpack as backup.)
16. When I need to relax, I have a glass of wine and open a good book, or walk down to my favorite little coffeehouse and visit with folks. At the end of the day, a hot bubble bath does wonders!
17. If I hadn’t been an expedition leader, I would have been associated in some way with the wine industry. I love the rural sophistication of the wineries, and it seems as if amazing food is always part of this world as well. However, these trips have allowed me to see the world, further open my mind, meet incredible people, and be in a leadership and team position that I love. For that I am extremely grateful.
18. The first trip I ever took as a child was a road trip to the beach in Galveston, Texas. The first airplane trip I took was to California with my family to go to Disneyland.
19. I got my love of travel from my grandmother and mother. My grandmother had a coin collection from various countries around the world, and I would get out the globe and match the coins to the countries. My mom bought the Time/Life series books and National Geographic travel books—and I always gravitated toward them. I also have to say that Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom had me wanting to go to Africa as long as I can remember.
20. My best piece of travel advice is be flexible and be open to receive. Always treat others with respect, kindness, and courtesy. You will be rewarded with the most incredible experiences and connection to other people, countries, and yourself.
