Megan Eaves

A believer in “no regrets,” Megan embodies the free spirited traveler – writing, teaching, and documenting everything and everywhere she can. Read our interview with the gypsy author herself below:



How many countries have you left your footprints in?
At last count, I’ve been to 20 countries and lived in 3.

When were you first bitten by the travel bug?
On my website bio, it says I was first taken with wanderlust as a child, when I would frequently ride my horse on long treks out across the countryside where I grew up. I always loved the feeling of exploration, discovering new corners and revisiting places I’d cataloged on previous rides. When I was 22, I’d just gone through a pretty bad breakup and so my best friend and I hopped on a plane to Ireland. That was my first real trip abroad and we had so many adventures on that trip. She brought her video camera and we just went in and out of every pub we could find, meeting random people and getting into trouble. We accidentally stole a train ride from the airport because we didn’t know we were supposed to buy tickets, and we met a random guy from Cork in Burger King who showed us around his city. That was definitely the first seedling of my travel bug.

As a Travel Geek, how do you keep the travel bug going?
I am a huge travel addict, so while other people are splashing out for fancy TVs and sweet rides, I am saving my pretty pennies for the next big trip. I’ve also found ways of allowing myself to live abroad, such as teaching English in China, which I’ve done four times, and going to postgraduate school abroad. I lived in Ireland for a year and a half while getting my Master’s degree there, and consequently met the man that was to become my husband. He is Irish. Luckily, we’re both travel addicts, so for the time being, we’re trying out life in the USA, and it is his first time living here. Meanwhile, I am rediscovering with new eyes my home state, New Mexico. I haven’t lived in the US in about 4 years, so it’s quite an experience for me!

First trip to abroad – Ireland, August 2003

How did you get involved in travel writing? What do you enjoy about the life of a travel writer?
Ever since I can remember, people have told me I was a good writer. I’m not sure whether people told me that because I was a good writer, or whether I became a good writer because people told me I was. Somehow, I suspect a child at the age of 10 can’t really be a good writer, and so I’m thankful to my parents and teachers who obviously saw a spark of potential and encouraged it.

My travel writing developed out of my traveling and it is still a work in progress. Every writer has her muse, and mine tends to be the place that I am at any given moment. I’m most inspired to write in a busy surrounding – a café or an exotic airport – where the locale speaks to me and gives me words of description. I am much better at describing scenes than I am at inventing them, and my favorite writers tend to be those that are scene-heavy, like Cormac McCarthy and Frank McCourt and John Steinbeck. So, I suppose my natural knack for describing scenes combined with my wanderlust and voila! Travel writer.

I started out writing here and there for the web, mostly about China, which was the country and language that I studied in college, and one of the first truly exotic places I ever went. This led to an eventual book idea – a guidebook to China for foreign teachers – which I eventually penned during the lonely evenings in my Chinese apartment during the first year I lived there. I’m now writing full time, and although it barely pays above the poverty line, I adore my job and am so proud to finally feel that I can call myself a professional travel writer.

Where have you made the best travel memories?
For me, the best travel memories are accompanied by the people I either travel with or meet along the way. Chasing Italian guys around the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland with my gal pal, sleeping in Copehagen airport with my best friend because our couchsurfing hosts turned out to be less-than-polite, and drinking sangria all afternoon at a café in Madrid with my husband. Time after time, the travel memories that stand out most to me involve someone interesting that makes the moment memorable. And these people don’t always have to be close mates, although they oftentimes are. I’ve met some amazing, interesting and sometimes completely odd people while traveling solo that have stood out in my travel memories and made into my travel stories. One thing I’ve learned is that a trip 2 hours away from your home with someone great is usually a much more amazing experience than a journey around the world alone.

Exploring Bruges, Belgium with husband Bill Lehane

What traits of a Travel Geek do you see in yourself?
I like the unusual aspects of travel. I’m enticed by going to off-the-beaten-track places and exploring unknowns, and the smallest aspects of a journey, such as finding your way from the guesthouse to the local supermarket, are usually the most exciting for me. I am not terribly interested in the more touristy or famous spots and I usually love the challenge of seeing a place that isn’t so easy to get to. I also tend to enjoy discovering the unique aspects of a place and learning about life as a local, rather than hitting up the major museum or big festival. I’m neither a backpacker nor a luxury traveler, but some combo of the two.

Seems like you have had quite a hectic life as a travel writer. What are your next travel plans?
My husband I have been traveling for nearly a year – we spent 6 months in eastern China with lots of travel before that, visiting various places in Europe. For the short term, we are staying stationary and recouping our sanities and expenses! But on my list of places to see next, I always list South America, Japan and Paris.



Thanks again to Megan for talking with us, along with all the other Sosaucers we interviewed this year. Be sure to follow Megan’s trips on Sosauce, and check out her latest photo collections here.

Want to be interviewed on the Sosauce blog? Email me and tell me what makes you a Travel Geek to be considered for a feature on Sosauce in 2010!

Diana Travels Round

Traveling is in Diana‘s blood. As a young child she took full advantage of weekend “adventures” through the nation’s capitol with her family, where she learned how vast the world truly is, and has loved to travel ever since.

“Sometimes I think about just saying ‘to hell with it,’ selling my car, putting my life in storage, packing up a pack and heading for the unknown,” says Diana.

But as a young professional like many of us, Diana is sticking to saving money and travel blogging in the meantime. Her site, D Travels Round, is a collection of thoughts, photos, stories, and tips related to her previous, current, and future travels. Diana has traveled to “nearly every state in the US, including Alaska,” all over Canada, England, and Scotland, where she performed at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Plus Diana has backpacked solo for a month through Amsterdam, Paris, Italy, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Greece, Croatia, and Israel. In short, Diana has left her footprints in 13 countries and over 50 cities. Phew!

This week we welcome Diana with open arms to the home of the Travel Geeks, Sosauce!

Read below to learn more about Diana’s travel experiences in our continued New Faces of Sosauce interview series:



Can you tell us when you first began traveling?
Because we lived just outside of Washington, DC, we had the Metro in our backyard, which meant the nation’s capitol was at our fingertips. I learned at an early age there are two types of malls — the shopping mall and the National Mall. The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural of History encouraged my passion for dinosaurs when I was younger; the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum inspired my fascination with the solar system; the Washington Monument let me see there was more to the world than what you saw from the ground; the White House taught me about our nation’s history. Then, as I grew up, my parents continued to encourage a passion for traveling. We would go on summer trips out west, take train trips across the country and more. When I was 16 I was blessed to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland, which was my first trip abroad, but definitely not my last.

When did you decide to start blogging about your travels?
I love writing. One night I couldn’t sleep and was thinking about everything I had learned on my last international trip. I wanted to get the thoughts out of my head. I haven’t been blogging too long, but I absolutely love it. It is such a freeing thing to just write and click “publish,” and share my world with other people.

What qualities of a Travel Geek do you see in yourself?
Everything! I am so curious to see the world, to learn about other cultures, to meet other fellow travelers, and to learn about life. I LOVE to write and to take photos and I love to share them with others. The more I travel, the more I learn about myself, other people and the world. There is an entire world at my doorstep. I wouldn’t be a Travel Geek if I didn’t want to go and explore all of it!

What are some of your favorite destinations to visit?
Hands down my favorite places to visit are:

Jerusalem. There is such a deep passion for the land embedded in Israeli’s. It is nearly impossible not to feed off of their passion. Plus, the land itself is absolutely breathtaking. From its ancient buildings to its lush Mediterranean landscaping, Israel is a place everyone should visit, regardless of religion.

Split, Croatia. The cafes, the blue of the Adriatic Sea. The narrow paths that meander through the old city. Everything about Split makes me want to return.

Alaska in the summer. The sun doesn’t set — it just gets dim. I was lucky enough to camp on the Turnagin Arm during the summer and it is just breathtaking. Just be careful for the mosquitoes. They are huge.

Why did you join Sosauce?
I really like everything about Sosauce. It is a great place to gain valuable information about traveling, all written by travelers. I love logging in and being able to look at what photos have been uploaded and who is writing about what.

What’s your sauciest travel memory?
Skinny dipping in Split and getting spotted . It’s the next post I am writing.

Any travel plans for 2010?
Work my way through Europe; DC for NYE; Las Vegas in May … there’s always something. I am ALWAYS trying to get out of Atlanta and experience new things, meet new people and LIVE!!



Keep up with Diana’s travels on Sosauce. Be sure to check out her photos of Croatia and excerpts from D Travels Round.

*Each week we’ll be presenting a New Face of Sosauce – an editorial biography on a Sosaucer and their travels. Isn’t it time we feature you?

Mi’Jan Wilder: single parent. nomadic traveler. caravan chronicler.

Mi’Jan Wilder has been a featured travel writer on Sosauce ever since she joined the Travel Geek community. Read any of her Journal entries and you will soon find out why. An exceptional skill for resonating time and place, thrown in with humor and enlightenment, Mi’Jan takes us through her wild journey around the world alongside her two small children. Her stories of courage, parenting, and of course – travels – undoubtedly make her the New Face of Sosauce.

Since 2007 Mi’Jan has been on a non-stop whirlwind adventure traveling with the kiddies through South America, and traveling solo with the 20th Friendshipment Caravan with Pastors for Peace. She has also seen Ecuador, Mexico, “half of the United States,” Brasil, Peru, and Italy. Her life has been hectic recently but luckily she had time to fit in an interview with me about her writing, what it is like raising two small children on the road, and inspiring tales from the life she has led.

Read Mi’Jan’s coming of age story as a Travel Geek below:

When were you first bitten by the travel bug?

I was one of those kids who would search out massive amounts of travel books + national geographic magazines at the neighborhood library.  I mean, I was hardcore about it.  Then my turn finally came: I went to South America as an exchange student in high school.  I lived with a host family where my ‘mom’ was running for government as a socialist candidate, and I had the opportunity to travel in an independent fashion as a young woman. That time of my life had a profound and lasting impact on my ability to conceive of myself as a woman of color, deserving of the privilege to see the world in new and interesting ways.

Can you describe what it is like being a traveling single mom?

It can be amazing, and it is filled with a lot of curiosity (on both my/our end as well as the locals).

In the beginning, just a few years back (and pre-Obama), I got a lot of negativity.  I was perceived as being completely irresponsible and flaky.  I lost some relationships along the way and to my pleasant surprise - forged incredibly new ones too.  Friends/colleagues/family members accused me of being a bad mother for taking my children to the “Third World.”  There was a lot of fear during those years (which was not so long ago).  The only way I could really turn around all that judgment was by doing as much as I could to stretch to their side and see their fear.  The idea that stands out in my thinking has to do with the insulation of living in the United States, where a great majority of folks do not leave their cities/states/country borders for a variety of reasons.  I am thinking more and more that this isolation creates an unfortunate cycle of fear about traveling to, or living in non-Western societies.

On the kids’ side, I have to say it has been one of the best parenting decisions I made.  Both the kids have a wider view of the world, from their early years, which is a pretty nice way to form one’s life; you know, being welcoming, curious, inclusive, outgoing etc.  As a result, they make friends at the drop of a dime.  My son has learned how to play capoeira, speak Brasilian Portuguese, and has a nose for healthy street food.  He gets the importance of speaking different languages - as a connector of peoples in general (and playing soccer like a pro and following the different Central and South American teams definitely hasn’t hurt the kids chances of being easily accepted).

My daughter is the super outgoing one in our tribe. Even still, when I came to pick her up from the first day of preschool while we were living in Brasil, I was stunned.  She was sporting a bright pink wig and dancing the samba with her teacher.  I can’t even dance the samba!

Ultimately though, there’s something different and unique for parents who travel the world over and get to experience it in a second hand way, through their children’s eyes.  It is almost as if any fears I had going into the journey get transformed.  Yes, I am a bit more tense than when I am traveling alone – I have to be responsible for the safety and well-being for all of us – that can feel scary when you don’t know how to speak the language in the beginning, let alone the directions (or address) home.  But kids are natural community makers and organizers.  They are always gathering other kids in their life, who in turn have all sorts of adults, who of course open up their homes and lives to share with me.  Believe it or not, it almost feels like traveling with kids equal instant new life.

Over the past few months we’ve spoken, you have visited tons of destinations. Can you tell us a bit about your current travels?

The Caravan Chronicles are about my participation with the 20th Friendshipment Caravan with Pastors for Peace.  The purpose of the caravan is to raise awareness of the issues relating to the blockade, and to challenge the United States travel ban to Cuba.  Some participants like myself choose to travel in support, however do not participate beyond the United States/Mexico border, whereas others make the full journey to Cuba and back.  There are 14 different routes which originate in Canada and the United States.  For more information, the official organization site is: http://www.ifconews.org/CubaCaravan

Now that you have seen the world over, do you have a favorite travel memory?

There are too many to choose from!  The most recent I suppose, being the caravan.

Your traveling plans don’t seem to stop anytime soon. What is next on your itinerary?

For the immediate, i.e. this week, I am headed out to party and make music with friends living off the grid in the Southwest.  Next week I fly out to Arizona to couchsurf with activists and artists who are co-organizing/participating in demonstrations, free market/Buy Nothing Day, indigenous peoples gathering etc.  After that intense week I will be spending time in Southern and Northern California (stay tuned for more City Reviews) to be with friends and family.

Any last thoughts?

Because I remain ever faithful to the idea of nomadic love, I have to say that my official intention is to meet a soul mate sometime soon during all my zig zagging on the roads, in the air and the rail.  It’s actually a running joke with my friends because as much as I travel, they seem to believe I’ll meet that extra special person at Trader Joe’s instead of Tibet.  Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

We want to thank Mi’Jan for the wonderful stories she has shared with us on Sosauce and wish her the best of luck to her and her little ones as they continue to explore the world.

*Each week we’ll be presenting a New Face of Sosauce – an editorial biography on a Sosaucer and their travels. Isn’t it time we feature you?

Hachi Liao is the New Face of Sosauce. A Taiwanese industrial designer that continually showcases artful, impressive, and unique photography on Sosauce, we can’t help but broadcast Hachi’s content all over the web.

For Hachi, photography marks the spotlight of her travels, leaving her footprints and snapshots throughout Asia. She currently calls Taiwan home, but has also experienced life in Hong Kong, Hokkaido, Beijing, and Tokyo. Her passion for stories and a growing desire to escape led Hachi to express herself through photography and traveling.

With photography, Hachi is able to recreate and share stories.

“I think most people love to listen to a story. But I love telling a story. We can decide what color, angle, material or composition we want people to feel. Furthermore, photography can let me become someone different, anyone I want to be that isn’t possible in real life,” explains Hachi.

Hachi also thinks memorization is key in the role photography plays in our lives. According to Hachi, “life is constructed by every single scene” and photography encourages her to “cherish them and communicate with them.” For example, though she is shy when it comes to opening up with friends in real life, taking photographs and writing articles helps her communicate from the heart.

Aside from storytelling through photography, Hachi also enjoys traveling of course! As mentioned before, escapism is part of the draw to her travels. Leaving behind familiar places and people could be rewarding, Hachi thought. Plus, after 12 years of “compulsory” education, Hachi grew to hate regular life. So during her college years she decided one thing: to travel alone once a month.

“I think travel in an unfamiliar place can bring me a lot of interesting things, and can also force me to become stronger and independent,” says Hachi.

Her first solo trip was to the eastern portion of Taiwan. Hachi brought along minimal items including a map, a cell phone, one camera, and 1200 Taiwan dollars ($40 in American money). Shortly after renting a scooter though, she officially went broke! But for Hachi, that did not matter. Her experience in Taiwan helped her realize that “travel is the best way to breathe.”

Since her time exploring western Asia, Hachi says Tokyo has been the most memorable destination. For personal, historical, and eye-opening reasons, Tokyo resonates with her the most. In Tokyo Hachi discovered the roots of her home. As a Taiwan resident, Hachi witnessed how the colonization of Taiwan by Japan still influences Taiwanese life today – from the culture and country life, to design. Being a creative person, observing the artistic side of a culture enhanced Hachi’s travel experiences.

Hachi describes how design gives people an outlook on daily life in Tokyo: “From package design, visual design, industrial design and famous architecture. . . we can learn of their aesthetic and social views.”

Driven by cultural inquiry and artistry, Hachi shot lots of photos in Tokyo and Taiwan “to memorize and try to read their language to know why and how behind their thoughts.” This amazed Hachi, inspiring her to keep on traveling, photographing and learning.

“When we travel to a new place, all we have to do is not only feel or eat; we can have a chance to learn and absorb their [a country's] strong point, and try to use it back in our own life,” Hachi claims.



With an endless string of incredible stories and photos to share, Sosauce is proud to have a talented photographer like Hachi be part of the Travel Geek community.



To view Hachi’s photo collections, visit her Sosauce album page.

*Each week we’ll be presenting a New Face of Sosauce – an editorial biography on a Sosaucer and their travels. Isn’t it time we feature you?

Heather from BeeWorldly lounging in Borneo

Everyone welcome Heather Guilfoyle, the New Face of Sosauce. As founder of off the beaten travel guide, BeeWorldly, Heather has traveled through deserts, islands, mountains, and rivers – and back – to share her discoveries. You can find her contributing her travel experiences as a Guide writer on Sosauce when she isn’t busy circumnavigating the globe. Luckily for us, Heather put together some great photos recently from trips to countries like Borneo, South Africa, and Spain.

Here is a slide show from Heather’s trip to South Africa:

Heather is staying busy managing her time in between traveling but I got to squeeze in a short interview with her before she was off to San Diego for the weekend. Here’s what Heather had to say about some of her favorite travel experiences and the start of BeeWorldly travel blog:



What are your upcoming travel plans?

San Diego this weekend, St. Kitts for a family vacation in December, and Tulum, Mexico in January. I am also planning a trip to Vietnam and Japan for May/June.

What is your sauciest travel memory?

Hmmm this is a tough one – but what comes to mind first is a recent dinner at Passais del Pep in Barcelona.  My husband and I had an 8 course dinner with way too much cava (Spanish sparkling wine).  By the time the digestifs came at the end I was literally sliding off my chair!

Heather and her husband in Spain

When and why did you start BeeWorldly?

I started BeeWorldly in August 2009 because I absolutely love to share my travel stories and favorite places.  I have been helping friends, family and coworkers plan trips for years and I wanted to have a portfolio of my favorite places along with places I plan to visit. I also include places that friends and family have been. [BeeWorldly] is just a running list of tips and pictures that I will always have and can share.

To check out Heather’s BeeWorldly travel guide, head on over to Tumblr. You will find a boundless list of destination reviews complete with photos and interesting historic information as well.

To get in touch with Heather and follow her latest journey, befriend her on Sosauce!

*Each week we’ll be presenting a New Face of Sosauce – an editorial biography on a Sosaucer and their travels. Isn’t it time we feature you?

Twenty-Something Travel’s Stephanie atop an active volcano in Iceland

As a young person, traveling to me was something planned way down the line in my future. With so much focus on establishing a career for myself, and settling down begrudgingly to face life as an adult, my dreams to see other destinations were always pushed on the backburner. But being at Sosauce, I’ve quickly come to realize quite the opposite: travel now, settle down later. It is also quite noticeable to me that travel amongst young people is gaining momentum, as they follow their wanderlust with no boundaries in sight.

Stephanie at Twenty-Something Travel encourages that same motto. With true Travel Geek qualities embraced, and 50 plus footprints, Stephanie is the New Face of Sosauce.

Stephanie believes that being in your twenties is the “ideal time to get out and see the world” and wanted to create a resourceful site for young people who had no real idea on where to start travel planning. Thus she started Twenty-Something Travel which provides an online guide to independent adventure travel for young adults, as well as tips for starting a backpacker life. Despite her age, Stephanie has plenty of travel experience under her belt. She began exploring the entire United States as a child, then embarked on multiple trips throughout Europe when she was older, and now has been to over 50 destinations around the globe. Her most recent excursion was a road trip around Iceland. Check out Stephanie’s photo collection on Sosauce from her time in the Balkans:

Stephanie’s constant traveling has left her with some pretty saucy memories. Last year she unexpectedly spent St. Patty’s Day in Ireland (what a true celebratory trip!) with an entire German university swim team in her 18-room dormitory.

“I walked in to find [them] lounging in their skivvies, clearly not expecting company – the looks on their faces was priceless,” says Stephanie.

Her travel plans won’t be stopping anytime soon either. Next September Stephanie will be scouring Oceania and Eastern Asia (with possible Eastern European stops along the way, too) on a year-long trip as she returns to traveling full time. She’s most excited to abandon the boredom that is the 9-5 lifestyle.

Catch up on Stephanie’s travels on Sosauce, or read her stories at Twenty-Something Travel.

*Each week we’ll be presenting a New Face of Sosauce – an editorial biography on a Sosaucer and their travels. Isn’t it time we feature you?

“Make Me the New Face of Sosauce!”

The New Face of Sosauce could be YOU. Want to be featured? Here are the requirements:

- MUST LOVE TRAVEL!

- Must be a Sosauce user

- Enjoys travel writing and photography

- Enjoys recreating and sharing travel memories

If you’ve passed these requirements, then send me, Alisha, an email with the following info:

- Full name and Sosauce URL

- Photo of yourself

- How many footprints you have left on the world

- Sauciest travel memory

- Your next travel plans



We’re ready to show you off! Join the Travel Geeks community for more travel fun.

Inspired by National Geographic’s magazine images and her parents “romanticized stories” of Sicily, Melanie had her heart set on travel since she was a child.

Her first spontaneous trip occurred when she decided to accompany her long-time friend to France for Christmas break during her sophomore year of college. Though she suffered consequences for the impulsive purchase, her wanderlust status had been confirmed. Since then Melanie has been photographing the world (check out her portfolio) including adventurous landscapes such as Peru.

“Peru barely caters to tourists – nothing is manicured for us, but its natural beauty is simply breath taking,” Melanie says.

Here’s one saucy story Melanie recalls during her trip to Peru with boyfriend, Paul:

“Paul and I are knowingly traveling during the ‘rainy season’ in Peru despite warnings of massive llacos (mudslides). We rode bikes 50 miles down the winding Andes roads in the pouring rain and hiked to Machu Picchu for days, over destroyed paths and trees that once stood upright. We were unphased.

After about seven days in and around Cusco, we boarded the cheapest autobus complete with 200 village stops, bound for Lima. At about 6pm at night, the bus stopped, no one said anything. We sat. We waited. No one said anything. A few people got off the bus, so Paul and I did as well. We saw a line of buses, cargo trailers and cars to the front and rear of us; not so unphased anymore but more concerned so we wandered forward to see why the traffic jam. We quickly discovered that within less than a hundred feet of our bus the entire mountainside was pouring down to the depths of the unknown. Eight hours into the drive and about 24 hours from Lima, the entire convoy WAITED through the night for las máquinas (the machines) to clear the road.

Sitting in a bus with NO bathroom, on the side of a mountain, about 2000 meters in the sky in the unmanicured Peru for an undetermined amount of time was a bit unsettling. Ironically, I was reading Mario Vargas’ Llosa’s Death in the Andes…needless to say I put the book down for a few days.”

Aside from trekking South America, Melanie has left footprints in Europe and the Caribbean too. You might also recognize Melanie from this summer’s Host Our Coast program and the Trazzler travel writing competition. She even took a mini road trip to party with us at the Sosauce / Matador BBQ this August. She’s a fan favorite among the travelverse, just so you know.

At Host Our Coast Melanie and Paul put their videographer skills to the test, creating a minute-long biopic about their experiences in Peru, Argentina, and Chile along with a confessional travel blog, the Wayward Winos for their chance to win a paid summer trip back in the states. Luckily, their hard work, voting pushes, and talent came together to impress the folks at Host Our Coast and landed them the “coolest coastal job.” Check out her photos from the Eastern Shore during the Host Our Coast trip on Sosauce:

Nowadays you can catch Melanie across New York City exploring the east coast and of course, travel blogging. Be sure to follow her adventures on Twitter or see her newest photos at Melanie McLean Photography. In the meantime, befriend her on Sosauce to see what saucy travel plans she has next!

*Each week we’ll be presenting a New Face of Sosauce – an editorial biography on a Sosaucer and their travels. Isn’t it time we feature you?

Meet the New Face of Sosauce: Luke Burrage. A world juggler and entertainer, Luke has been bitten by the travel bug since the early age of twelve. As a child, Luke once joined his family on a bus ride through Europe, working to procure and transport playground equipment alongside their charity group. From there, Luke’s trips grew more obscure, and wonderfully interesting.

Soon after that family trip from England to Romania, Luke joined his family again – this time delivering an “English language library” to Croatia.

At 16 he hitchhiked across France with his twin brother to Barcelona where he encountered theft and injury, leading to a quick trip back home.

When Luke reached college, he turned to juggling instead of his studies. He became involved in the “juggling subculture” where he began performing at regional and national festivals. Since 2001, Luke has been performing at juggling events and workshops, all around the world including the U.S., Australia, Israel, and many more in Europe.

In 2003, Luke became a self-employed juggler and entertainer which has led him to work on odd locations, such as cruise ships, where he also gets paid to travel, leaving his footprints on every continent in the world. Though he is constantly on the move, Luke has been lucky enough to experience a different destination each day with his camera by his side. In fact, Luke recently started a “juggling around the world” film in which he’s documented himself juggling in every country and territory he visits. He will have reached 45 destinations by the time the video is final in December!

Take a look at Luke performing some juggling tricks in Berlin last year:

When Luke isn’t busy juggling around the world, you can find him, well… traveling more! Over the last four summers, Luke and his former girlfriend spent time exploring Ireland, Greece, Czech Republic, and Spain in their campervan, each time attending the  European Juggling Convention which visits a different country each year. Traveling independently, Luke was able to combine his wanderlust and juggling talents during the trip. Check out Luke’s adventures from this summer here:

As to Luke’s favorite place he’s visited thus far, he votes Antarctica as one. “It has the most spectacular views, an incomparable emptiness and bleakness, and amazing wildlife (one evening we spotted over 50 whales).”

Greece also stands out as a favorite for better weather and richer history: “Sleeping in the van, then snorkeling before breakfast… life doesn’t get much better!”

Also among Luke’s favorite cities are Hong Kong, New York (where he hopes to spend a summer someday) and Berlin, his current home of four years.

So what’s Luke up to these days? He is keeping busy with work trips through the end of the year then enjoying some time off alone. This week he was just in Casablanca which will soon be followed by a trip to the Turkish Juggling Festival.

Next up Luke plans on visiting familiar stomping grounds such as Croatia, Italy, Israel, Spain, various Atlantic islands, Florida,
Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and perhaps even Scotland. But along the way he’ll be seeing new sights as well: Egypt, Albania, the Dominican Republic and Aruba. He’s even looking forward to enjoying some touristy activities in Egypt and trying to extend his explorations.

In the meantime, you can follow Luke and his travels on Sosauce. You can also read updates on his blog, or find him on Twitter.

*Each week we’ll be presenting a New Face of Sosauce – an editorial biography on a Sosaucer and their travels. Isn’t it time we feature you?

We’re proud to welcome some new travelers though, particularly our friends like professional bloggers and globetrotters, and others making a difference. As you might have caught on, Sosauce is more than just your destination for recreating your travel memories. We’re a group that cares about raising cultural awareness and getting socially active with progressive issues. So we’d like to take this time out to introduce everyone to new Sosaucers bringing you inspiring travel stories, pictures, and advice. We hope you greet them with open arms just as we have!

First up, meet Dave from Go Backpacking.com’s “Round the World” travel blog. Dave’s a solo globetrotter, recently completing an impressive 15 month trip by himself around the world with nothing but his backpack, some couch surfing friends, and curiosity. He’s been a long-time Sosaucer but was absent for so long with his trip, we missed him – luckily he returned to share with us his incredible journey. Dave’s footprints include India, Cambodia, Nepal, and Colombia. He’s done everything from crossing dangerous borders, riding jeeps into deep mountains, salsa dancing in Colombia, to learning about the serious cultural barriers many developing nations still face today. Some of his trip highlights can be seen on Sosauce:

Next up, our dear friend Diane of Away from Africa. Diane married into modern-day African royalty but is rooted in learning the life of Sub-Saharan people. You can find Diane traveling to and from Cameroon, where her husband calls home, writing observations, anecdotes, and news about the Cameroonian people. Her two journals on Sosauce reflect her connections with Cameroonian women as well as the current relationships between American organizations and Sub-Saharan countries. Diane highlights special interviews with African leaders and organizations, while shedding light on foreign issues not well-known to the Western world. In the following entry, Diane speaks about the Global Peace Exchange’s campaign for education in Rwanda:

Suzanne Russo is a heel-wearing traveler. She’s resided, worked, and ventured all over New York but she’s not your average traveler. Suzanne goes wherever her shoes take her, literally. From Argentina to Italy, Suzanne travels Around the World in Gold Stilettos, empowering women to strap on some heels and hit the road. She claims her two loves aside from shoes are travel and writing about travel. Gotta love a girl on the go who isn’t afraid to show off her fashion sense too! We’re glad she’ll be filling us in on how her stiletto traveling is going.

The infamous stilettos

Wine with girlfriends

Llama loving in Peru

Cathleen aka Felecia Cruz is our newest freedom fighter. A powerhouse in the music scene with a personality to boost, you might not guess Cathleen has an underlying passion for philanthropy too. She fronts the organization, Fighting for Futures – an organization dedicated to using the creative arts to better the lives of underprivileged children. Fighting for Futures’ core issue is combating the sexual abuse of young women, particularly slavery and prostitution, in nations like Cambodia and India. The courage and dedication Cathleen has to enriching the lives of these girls goes above and beyond. You can find the Fighting for Futures and Felecia Cruz team hosting various ongoing fund raising events throughout New York City as well as capturing eye-opening video footage exposing the underbelly of these dire issues. We’re so proud to have people like Cathleen bring a new perspective to our community.

And now a student ambassador of goodwill, Alex Budak. We recently interviewed him on his work towards social entrepreneurship and can’t help but keep following his content. Alex is a grad student at Georgetown University who’s been recently thrown into the traveling world. His first international trip through college was with the Semester at Sea program and was so pleased with the trip, he decided to study abroad in India this summer. He’s got great photos of people and small villages as well as the landscape of many destinations he’s seen. It is Alex’s connection with different people from around the world that keeps him going and us interested. Check out what else he did on his trips for yourself:

So no matter what kind of travel geek you are, don’t stop traveling, following your passions, and continue to share your stories with us. It’s our job at Sosauce to provide a home for you to return from your trips. Isn’t it time we show you off too?