Hi, Readers!
I’m often asked “what or who inspired me to travel” and the answer is three fold:
1. At the top of the list is my late father, Norman. He had a deep passion for travel, as I currently do. He was a man who immersed himself into different cultures to get a deeper understanding. In particular, he loved to visit North Africa (we have ancestry there). He learned Arabic, and even taught me a couple words and phrases when I was younger (I sadly forgot them). He loved to travel so much that he actually got a pilot’s license. I’m truly thankful for having not only a caring father, but a father who sought out the unknown without fear. The way I travel is without a doubt a reflection of him. I have a goal one day to visit the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, in Egypt, to recreate this photo as closely as I can. I will continue to keep and push forward my father’s legacy with not only travel, but also entrepreneurship.
2. My dear friend (twinny), Gemma. She knew my passion for wanting to get out of the country and explore and she pushed me to do it! My first international trip was a 10-day European trip with her and friends. We collectively went to Greece (Athens and Mykonos), then I departed and did a solo trip to Italy and The Netherlands. Since that trip, I’ve been non-stop! Thanks, Gemma!!
3. Anthony Bourdain. I’m definitely not the only one who was/is inspired by his travels. He had a zest for culture and food that I haven’t seen by any other well-known media personality. Trying local cuisine from the places I travel connects me to the culture. He taught me that. Breaking bread with someone or trying someone’s food is a huge sign of respect in many cultures. When I went to Tangier, Morocco, with my bestie, Shena Nicole, we literally did his exact trip…and it was AWESOME, besides getting lost in the medina..at night. But we managed to find our way out after about 25 mins or so. He still inspires me and I hope to be at least half the travel journalist that he was.
If you are thinking about traveling and haven’t started….just do it! Life is too short to wait. Explore the unknown and you will learn more about yourself than you could ever imagine.
Luxuriously yours,
Phaon K. Spurlock
Author
