In the spirit of International Women’s Day, a global celebration for the achievements of women, I bring you a quirky story I stumbled upon while traveling through Bolivia….

With their long flowing skirts, braided pigtails and bowler hats, ‘Cholitas’ are easy to identify in the streets of La Paz, Bolivia’s capital city.  It’s an antiquated look — compared to the skinny jeans and low cut tops seen across the new generation – but the Cholitas have become a symbol of indigenous tradition and culture.

That’s why I was so surprised to hear about the event that happens every Sunday in the mulifunctionary arena in El Alto, just twenty minutes outside of polluted La Paz.  Here, in this humble arena, you can spot the Cholitas…wrestling!!

With long line-ups and fanatic fans, it’s a popular form of local entertainment, so I made my way outside of the city to explore this unusual female phenomenon.

The make-shift wrestling ring, with ropes wrapped in fraying electrical tape and a thin greying mattress on the floor

The actual wrestling arena looked like a high-school gym, with basketball nets, wooden bleachers, and a makeshift ring in the centre.  Ropes were wrapped with fraying electrical tape and the floor was a thin greying mattress.  Depending on where I stood, the room smelled either of freshly popped popcorn or stale urine, the appropriate fragrance for a wrestling match.

To the tune of “Eye of the Tiger”, the Indigenous Bolivian women leapt on male contenders, flexed their muscles and rumbled in the ring…in skirts, no less.  It was tradition in one corner, kitschy entertainment in the other.

Alicia Flores, a 17 year-old wrestler

I met Alicia Flores, a 17 year-old wrestler who wanted to improve the status of women.  “We want to show that Cholitas are strong ladies,” she said in Spanish, “stronger than the men.”  She told me that this local event not only amuses the masses but works to subvert Bolivia’s predominantly machismo society.

The Cholitas train twice a week, on Wednesdays and Fridays.  “This is a dangerous sport,” she said. “You must train a lot.”  She is sure to mention that she has just finished school and hopes to become a police officer one day.

Wrestling Fans watch the choreographed drama

Post interview, Alicia entered the ring and prepared to fight.  Her opponent, a bare-chested man with stringy long black hair, slipped through the fraying blue ropes and staggered around the ring.  He gave a fake head-butt, while she took a dramatic plunge.  The crowd ooh-ed and boo-ed, throwing orange peels, popcorn and plastic water bottles in protest.  They were really into it but I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.  Let’s just say, the drop kicks and grimaces of anguish were as real as Pamela Anderson’s breasts. Clearly, this Bolivian type of Luche Libre is more of a soap opera than a sport.

At first I felt a wee bit disappointed.  Call me bloodthirsty, but I was hoping for a real tear-your-hair-out-gouge-your-eyes-hardcore-athletic-spectacle. What I got was a carefully choreographed performance that became surprisingly more entertaining the more I watched.  I didn’t take long before I was sucked in by the frenzy of an energetic crowd.

Yes, it’s fake but it’s fun.  Beyond the kitsch, it makes a statement.  The depiction of strong indigenous women plays a positive role for young people in the community.  Female wrestling may indeed be making social change.  It’s girl power– Bolivian style.

If you’re in our nation’s capital this weekend, check me out at the Adventures in Travel Expo!  Sunday, March 7th at 12:15-1:15pm, I’ll be talking about my adventures around the world, through 80 countries across six continents.  I’ll share tips and tricks for maximizing your independent travel and boosting your cultural experiences while cutting the costs.

Here’s a brief description from the travel show’s official website:

“The world’s largest travel and adventure show – the Travel & Adventure Show – gathers hundreds of captivating destinations from exotic India to captivating Cayman and exciting, activities: a huge scuba pool, kayak demonstrations, an aerial zip line, a rope adventure course, cultural performers and much more. The Travel & Adventure Show is THE place to kick off the winter blahs and plan that ultimate vacation.”

For more details, check out: http://www.adventureexpo.com/

Hope to see you there!

In anticipation for Tim Burton’s movie spectacular Alice In Wonderland (set to open this weekend), why not organize your very own Mad Hatter tea party?  New York City knows how to pull off high tea, so before you start drooling over dreamy Johnny Depp, chase your own white rabbit through some of the city’s best herbal haunts.  Check out my Top 3 spots to sip afternoon tea in NYC.  These places offer stewed brews of loose leaf fit for the Queen of Hearts; pastries and scones so delicious they’ll have you smiling like the Cheshire Cat.

Alice’s Tea Cup: This Upper West Side cafe offers Alice In Wonderland themed treats and matching decor.  Order the Jabberwockey, a $38 spread with scones, preserves and cream, an unlimited selection of sandwiches and Jean’s “not-yet-but-soon-to-be-famous mocha chocolate chip cake.”

Tea & Sympathy: For all things British, this is your one stop shop.  Lewis Carroll style afternoon tea will set you back $35 and includes finger sandwiches, a pot of steaming hot tea, scones with clotted cream and raspberry jam.

The Russian Tea Room: With its decadent decor, plush red velvet seats and twinkling chandeliers, this 80-year-old establishment is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon snack.  Between the hours of 2-4pm, indulged in caviar-crusted blinis and fancy-shmancy sandwiches (smoked ham and turkey with truffle croque monsieur; curried chicken salad with raisins and pecans; roquefort bleu cheese and pear with walnuts…de-lish).

Do you have a favorite tea spot in NYC?  Are you pumped about the new Alice In Wonderland movie?  Share your thoughts below…

Looking for ways to maximize your travel experience at a fraction of the cost?  Here are few tried and true ways to enrich your travel, feel more fulfilled and save money!

1) Select destinations that are good value. Say no to Europe and say yes to Southeast Asia and South America. The plane ticket may initially be expensive but the cost of living is cheap when you’re in the country and your dollar will go much further.  In Thailand I was paying $10 a night for a beach bungalow and a few dollars a day for street food.  Plus, Thai culture is so different from that at home, making for a more interesting travel experience.

2) When looking for flight deals, turn to Kayak.com, an online travel search engine and helpful travel tool where you can compare prices across hundreds of sites in one simple search.  Check out their Deals, Buzz and Trends sections for affordable flight and hotel options.

3) Independent travel may seem a bit daunting at first, but everything you need to survive will be available to you in the “Traveler’s Bible.”

Lonely Planet guidebook series is my go-to resource while I’m on the road.  With its affordable hotel recommendations, off-the-beaten track restaurants and local grassroots organizations, Lonely Planet offers an honest and in-depth account of a destination, beyond the tourist traps. Check out their online travel community Thorn Tree (www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree), where you can post questions and reach out to other independent travelers.

4) Learn the Lingo.  Knowing the basic 10 words of any language will help you get to know local people. I find people drop their guard a little and open up more when you demonstrate your interest in learning their language and culture. A few helpful words may help you make some new friends, get better service, and, at the very least, get someone to smile.

5) Find an “Insider,” Not a Guide. Travel is all about the people you meet.  Connecting with local people can help you understand the culture of the country you’re visiting. Use social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to reach out to local people and ask their advice.  Often people are excited to promote their homeland to visitors and will offer interesting ideas, even dinner invitations.

Common interests can also bring people together.  I reached out through MySpace to heavy metal bands in Georgia. I was interested in learning about the heavy metal scene, they took me under their wing and brought me into the fold of a unique subculture.

Reach out to ex-pat groups of Americans now living abroad.

Send an email to all your contacts or Facebook friends, saying “Hey, I’m going to India…know anyone there?”  Often someone can suggest a friend of a friend to connect with.  Having an “insider” to show you the country will make the world of difference.

6) Choosing locally run tour companies is often much cheaper than going with an American company.  Going local not only pumps money back into the local economy (which is a positive impact of tourism), but you’ll have a better chance of having a more ‘authentic’ experience with local guides who speak the language, know the culture and the land.  For North American based tour groups, GAP and Intrepid are my favorite. They specialize in small, sustainable, socially-conscious tours with an emphasis on culture.

7) Giving back: Volunteering abroad is a great way to enrich your travel experience. It brings a sense of fulfillment and takes you off the tourist trail. For information on volunteering abroad, check out my blog posting http://www.traveljunkiejulia.com/a-how-to-guide-to-volunteer-vacations/

How do you get the most fulfilling experience while traveling?  Share your thoughts below!

Check me out this year’s New York Times Travel Show (Feb 26-28th at the Javits Convention Center), the largest consumer and travel trade show produced in the US, featuring more than 500 tourism boards and 23,000 attendees.

Travel seminars are held throughout the day, hosted by experts in the field including the “Frugal Traveler” columnist Matt Gross, “Practical Traveler” columnist Michelle Higgins, WOR Radio host and travel experts Arthur and Pauline Frommer, “1,000 Places to See Before You Die” author Patricia Schultz and yours truly.  I will be a featured speaker for a seminar called:  Around the World With Julia Dimon – Beyond the Tourist Zone. In this 45 minute session, I’ll talk about my adventures across some 80 countries and six continents, from extreme religious festivals in Sri Lanka, to fair trade coffee farms in Nicaragua, to worm-infested jungles of Venezuela.  With an insatiable passion for off-the-beaten track exploration, I’ll share tips on maximizing your very own travels, experiencing local culture and pushing beyond the tourist traps.

I’m also speaking with Max Hartshorne and Kent St. John about Travel Writing 201:
GoNOMAD.com editor Max Hartshorne and senior travel editor Kent St. John, and TV personality Julia Dimon (that’s me) provide insider’s tips for travel writers.  This class builds upon last year’s successful workshop.  Back from a trip and want to share what you saw with the world?  We will present an overview of the travel writing market for beginner travel writers, and provide tips and tricks that will help get your articles published.  We will also teach you how to use social networks like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace to get more exposure for your travel stories on the web.

Hope to see you at this weekend’s New York Times Travel Show!!  For more information about the travel seminars, check out: http://www.nyttravelshow.com/Travel-Seminars.html

Not a dinner party goes by without someone asking me, “Out of all of the places you’ve been around the world, what’s your all-time favorite destination?”  For me, the answer is simple.  Tanzania. Home to the Serengeti, Mt. Kilimanjaro, rich Maasai traditions, welcoming people and Lucy (a historic female hominid that gives root to our human ancestry), this Eastern African country has a lot to offer the curious tourist.

There is tons to see and do but, as far as I’m concerned, no trip to Tanzania is complete without visiting the island paradise of Zanzibar.  Once the hub of the African slave trade, Zanzibar now draws sun-seekers and young partiers looking to laze along its many beaches.  It’s a fascinating combination of Arabic culture and local African life, set against hypnotic blue waters and crumbling buildings that scream character.

A local merchant in Stone Town’s fruit markets

My experience began in Stone Town, an antiquated capital city of colorful markets, gold-trimmed mosques and delicious beachside seafood shacks.  Having survived a mélange of cramped and sweaty forms of public transportation (including a fifty-hour train ride from Zambia), I had finally made it 36 km off the coast of Tanzania to the famed archipelago of Zanzibar.

I checked into Kendwa Rocks, a budget guesthouse along the northeast coast, slipped into my bikini and headed straight for the beach.  Needless to say, I was desperate for some quality piña colada time.

Sitting there near the shore, the scene was a real-life cheesy postcard: a lone emerald palm tree, white sands and glimmering turquoise waters.  Wooden dhows sailed the horizon like fairy tale pirate ships in search of gold and riches.  Local women wrapped in bright orange fabrics offered henna tattoos, hair braiding and massage services for the price of a Starbucks latte.  Maasai men in plaid tribal sarongs hawked beaded necklaces and canvas paintings.  A trio of kids offered fresh mangoes to relaxed tourists, cocooned in hammocks.

With its chill beach life, natural beauty and distinct African culture, Kendwa is paradise.  I sighed happily and spread-out on the beach like a tanning starfish, surrendering to the “hakuna matata” vibe (Swahili for ‘no worries’) that dominates the island.

A few hours of forgotten sunscreen and I was cooked.  Moving my Rudolf-red legs from the tropical heat into the shade, I spotted a local fisherman holding a slimy, speared octopus.  Curious about the art of spear fishing (and on the hunt for an activity that didn’t induce melanoma), I approached him and, with the help of a Swahili interpreter, organized a private fishing tour for the following morning…

Mosi, my spearfishing guide, guts the catch of the day on the white sands of Zanzibar

… Eight am.  Mask, snorkel and flippers in hand, I met up with Mosi, a local subsistence fisherman.  “Jambo,” he greeted, tossing me the handmade spear-gun we’d be using to trap dinner.  This makeshift rifle carved of wood came complete with a thick elastic band, a trigger mechanism and sharp metal spear.

With rudimentary equipment and little instruction, I couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous as we swam away from shore, deep into the Indian Ocean.

Near clumps of coral, my underwater guide took a deep breath, dove beneath the water and scanned the rocky crevices for sea life.  With skill, he stalked the little fish, anticipating their movements and waiting patiently for that perfect moment, before launching his spear.  Though he missed a few times, Mosi was nearly a perfect shot.

He threaded his newly caught angelfish and squid along a fine wire and dragged the injured catch behind him.

Drifting further and further from the safety of shore, it suddenly dawned on me.  Swimming alongside bleeding, injured fish probably isn’t the greatest of ideas.  I’ve seen the acclaimed documentary Shark Water.  I know that sharks are merely misunderstood creatures victimized by bad PR and “sorry I mistook you for a seal” incidents, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was just a wee bit vulnerable. So, I kept an eye open for Tiger Sharks and any other creatures that might mistakenly eat me.

Wielding my spear gun like a Soviet spy out of a James Bond flick, I dove, aimed and shot an arrow towards a skittish spotted fish. Having completely missed him, I re-surfaced dejectedly gasping for air, gulping mouthfuls of salt water.

A few fishless hours later, I swam back to shore and collapsed on the beach.  Spear fishing sure was harder than it looked.  I thanked Mosi, hung up my flippers and finally ordered a well-earned piña colada.

Quick Travel Tips:

Kendwa Beach, on the northeastern side of Zanzibar, is the perfect choice for young backpackers.  Its beaches are far better than those found along Nungwi, a popular but rather tacky tourist spot 3 km north.

Kendwa Rocks offers basic but clean accommodations (around $70 night for a private, full-size bungalow) in thatched huts or beach bandas.  As the name suggests, this place is rocks, especially during their monthly full-moon parties.  Scuba Shack can provide more information on spear fishing and snorkel rentals. For bookings visit

http://www.kendwarocks.com/booking/booking.html

Finally, check out Kayak for Zanzibar hotel options: http://www.kayak.com/Zanzibar-Hotels.1557.hotel.ksp

What’s your all-time favorite travel destination?  Leave me a comment below!

With climate change, vanishing ozone, rising sea levels and the endangerment of the world’s cuddliest creatures, the need to be environmentally responsible now extends beyond fringe scientists, trendy celebrities and campaigning American presidents.

More and more travelers are going green by minimizing their travel footprint.  For travelers who’d like to become more enviro-friendly, here are some basic tips on reducing your impact while on the road:

1)  Airplane take-offs and landings are some of the biggest carbon-emission culprits.  Take direct flights to cut down on those global warming -contributing CO2s.

2)  When possible, look for alternative forms of transportation (train, bus, car-pool, sailboat or piggy back should do the trick)

3)  Turn off the lights and air conditioning when you leave your hotel room.  Unplug all the appliances when you’re not using them.  Turn down the thermostat by a few degrees.

4)  Conserve water with shorter showers and opt out of having your towels and bed sheets washed daily.

5)  Bring your own soaps, creams and toiletries, instead of using those disposable plastic amenities provided by the hotel.

6)  Don’t buy tourist souvenirs made from animals, shells or plant products.

7)  Cut down on waste by bringing re-chargeable batteries.

8)  Research carbon offset programs before you pay.

GoGreenTravelGreen.com shares their list of12 things you need to know about carbon offset programs and the controversy behind them.  Here are a few of their tips:

- Organizations that offer carbon offsets are not exclusively non-profits.  Do your research before you give money.

- Don’t fund projects that plant trees.  Give to a project that makes an immediate difference, not one that will theoretically help in the distant future.

- Look for companies that adhere to the Gold Standard, this is an internationally recognized carbon credit label.

For similar tips and a list of recommended companies that offer carbon offset programs, check out: http://gogreentravelgreen.com/green-travel-101/12-things-you-need-to-know-about-carbon-offsets-25-days-to-green-travel-day-11/

9)  Stay in an eco-friendly hotel.  Before booking, ask the following questions:

- Does the hotel have environmental policies or programs?

- How does management try to reduce their consumption and conserve energy?  (ie. do they use alternative energy sources like solar or wind power?  Are there low-flow showerheads to reduce water use?  Do they source locally-grown organic vegetables, etc.)

- What have they done for the local people in nearby communities or for wildlife conservation in their area?

- How do they treat their waste water? (are they pumping out waste into the ocean?)

Responsible travel.com lists more questions to ask.  Click their “Places To Stay” tab for a list of eco-accommodations: http://www.responsibletravel.com/Copy/Copy101994.htm

Kayak.com also offers a list of best green hotels in the US: http://www.kayak.com/traveler/the-best-green-hotels.bd.html

10)  Pick the right tour operator.  Look for a company who runs small tour groups, boasts a strong enviro-policy and support locally-run enterprises.  Ask them the same style of questions listed above.

Ask them how many local people they employ (from management positions to on-the-ground guides.)  A good company will work with people who live in the community and know the nuances of the culture.  G.A.P (www.gapadventures.com), Intrepid (www.intrepidtravel.com) and Earth Watch (www.earthwatch.org) offer tourist activities that put a high priority on conservation, sustainable tourism and socially-conscious service.

Leave a comment below with your own ‘green’ travel tip!

Jet setting around the world through exotic locales (and getting paid for it), travel writers sure do have pretty desirable jobs.  True, it’s a coveted and fiercely competitive career but, with a little passion, perseverance and advice, you too can become a travel writer.

Over the past seven years, my experience as a travel writer has ranged from writing a weekly travel column for a national newspaper, to hosting a TV show called Word Travels, about the real lives of travel writers.  Living and breathing travel writing, I’d like to offer the following advice.

For those looking to break into the biz, here are 15 tried-and-true tips to becoming a travel writer.

1. Getting Started: Read books about the writing craft.  ”Travel Writing” by Don George (published by Lonely Planet) is a great place to start.  www.transitionsabroad.com is one of many online resources that focus on travel writing.

2. Read Other Travel Writers: For inspiration, read other travel writers to get a feel for what’s already out there and what makes for good writing.  Dissect the elements of their writing and storytelling skills.  What kind of travel writing do you like?  What kind of travel writing or content do you feel is missing out there?

3. Write: Might seem like a simple statement but a travel writer WRITES.  Write as much and as often as you can.  If you’re not able to travel right now, write about new attractions or activities located in your local area.  Become a travel expert in your very own city.

4. Find a Good Hook: Take a fresh point of view on an old subject or look for unusual new stories.  Many of the places you will write about have been written about before, so you need to find something new and original to say that will grab a reader’s (and an editor’s attention.)  Up-and-coming neighborhoods, trends and unique destinations always make for good story angles.

5. Be a Reporter: Traveling as a travel writer is different from traveling as a tourist.  When you’re in the field, act like a journalist: take notes, ask questions, get quotes and notice the little details of your trip.  How much did it cost, how long has it been open, how many people have visited, what’s the name of the district it’s located in, etc.  Travel writing has been described as part reporting, part dear-diary and part providing traveler information.  Include the specifics to bring your story alive.

6. Write Vividly:  Your goal is to paint a picture with your words and take the reader on a journey… even though they’ve never left the couch.  Include sensory details. What did it taste like?  Look like?  Feel like?  Smell like? What did the experience remind you of?  What emotion did you feel?  The best travel writing captures a sense of place.  Tap into your five senses, adding depth and vividness to your descriptions.  Add quotes and historical/political context to situate the destination you’re visiting.

7. Know Your Audience: Get familiar with the publication you want to pitch.  What types of stories does this publication feature?  Ask yourself who their audience is.  Is it young males who like snowboarding, teenage girls, parents with young children?  What kind of story could you write that would fit in with their style?  If you have a particular story in mind, be sure to pitch it to an appropriate publication that features that genre of topic.

8. Pitch An Editor: Most newspaper travel editors don’t want to read proposals, they want to see the finished article or piece, already written and polished.  Craft a well written, succinct paragraph outlining what your story is about, why it’s relevant for their publication,  why it’s important to cover now, and why you’re the best person to write it.

9. Magazines Who Want Your Work: Reach out to online publications, blogs, magazines and newspapers to publish your work.  Brave New Traveler offers a list of 50 online travel magazines actively looking for travel writing content, among them:

www.gonomad.com

www.worldhum.com

www.bootsnall.com

www.matador.com

For a comprehensive list of blogs looking for your travel writing, check out: http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/07/09/50-travel-magazines-that-want-to-publish-your-writing

10. Accumulate Clips: Try to get published anywhere and everywhere.  After you’ve got a few good “clips” (proof of published articles) then you’re a travel writer and can start sending pitches to the bigger publications.

11. Don’t Get Discouraged: After you’ve pitched the editors of online publications, be sure to follow up with them but don’t be obnoxious.  Editors are very busy and often get hundreds of emails a day.  Pieces often get rejected.  It’s nothing personal.  Grow a thick skin and keep on pitching.

12. Promote Yourself: Travel writing is 20 percent writing, 80 percent marketing. Embrace social media, using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flicker, Travelistic, StumbleUpon, Reddit, Linked In and Digg to promote your work.

13. More than Words: An increasing amount of online sites are looking for video content. New media skills are the future, so if you’re able to provide video content for sites AND write, it makes you a more valuable contributor.  Look into getting a video camera and filming short videos while you travel.  Using simple editing software like iMovie and uploading your content to YouTube will do the trick.

14. Don’t Quit Your Day Job: The reality of travel writing is that few people can make a good living at it.  While the perks of the biz may be good, the pay sucks.  Either stick to your day job and write on the side, or become a full-time writer that focuses on travel and other passions, food, art, health or pop culture.

15. Determination is Key: According to David Farley, a New-York based author who teaches travel writing at NYU, “some people are naturally good writers, but anyone can become a great writer with enough practice.  Drive is most important.  Get into the mindset that nothing is going to stop you from getting what you want.  The most successful students I’ve taught weren’t necessarily the most talented in the class…they were the most determined.”

Do you have travel writing tips you’d like to share? Comment away below!

If you’re in Boston this weekend, check me out at the Boston Globe Travel Show!  I will be speaking about two hot topics:

Travel Writing 101: where I offer a step-by-step guide on becoming a travel writer.  In this interactive discussion, I’ll take you from proposal to pitch, providing tips and tricks that will help get your articles published.  I’ll also offer social media secrets on how to promote your writing.

The Reality of Reality Travel TV: where I talk about the behind-the-scenes reality of filming a travel show across some 36 countries.  I also offer advice to those looking to break into the TV travel industry for themselves.

Visit the Boston Globe Travel Show for more details: http://www.bostonglobetravelshow.com/

Hope to see you there!

His name is El Whappo.  He’s 70 years-old, 13 feet long and he’s one of the biggest alligators ever seen in Louisiana’s West Pearl River.

Our tour group found the monster reptile lounging along the sandy river bank, soaking up the afternoon sun.  As our motor boat approached for a better look, the alligator turned its snout, slid from the shore and floated towards us.

This was Dr. Wagner’s Honey Island Swamp Tour, a two-hour guided boat ride through Louisiana’s wetlands.  Open since 1984, the tour focuses on the natural environment and its indigenous wildlife: from tiny turtles to moss-covered cypress trees, slimy green duck weed (a staple in many swamp dwellers’ diets), to blue herons the size of pterodactyls.

Alligators are some of the most interesting animals to spot.  Sure they’re less aggressive than crocodiles but alligators do have some of the strongest jaws in the animal kingdom.  We learn that gators don’t chew their prey, they just swallow them whole.  If the prey is too big, the alligator will tear off chunks of flesh and save it for later.

“Alligator attacks are rare but they do sometimes occur, so keep hands, feet and cameras inside of the boat at all times,” our guide reminded us, launching a white marshmallow into the water just inches from the boat. Bobbing like a wine cork, the marshmallow was doomed.  El Whappo swam towards it, opened up his jaws and wrapped a set of razor sharp teeth around the sugary treat.

Submerged, with only their eye-balls skimming the water’s surface, it’s often hard to tell how big some alligators actually are.  Our guide shared a quick tip.  A gator’s size can be determined by the length of their snouts. Every inch of snout corresponds to every foot in body length.

Several marshmallows later, we left El Whappo and cruised down river, through root beer-colored waters to a maze of narrow waterways and cypress swamps.

Louisiana’s wetlands… home to a mythical monster?

Though the eye of Hurricane Katrina did pass over the area, there was very little damage to the 80,000 acres of swamp land.  The dense foliage, swollen buttresses roots and gnarled trees are still in-tact but many oak trees didn’t survive the storm.

As we puttered through the swamps, the thick Caladenia (four leaf clover look-alikes) and cypress knees (tree stump roots sticking out of the water) threatened to clog our outboard motor.  Not sure if it was the flora, the threat of poisonous snakes or the alligator infested waters but there was definitely something spooky about Louisiana’s swamp lands.  Something mysterious and unknown lurking in the shadows…

As legend goes, there have been eye-witness reports of a seven-foot-tall Bigfoot type creature that lives in the area. They call it the Honey Island swamp monster, The Thing or just Wookie.  It’s been described as: “half mammal, half reptile, all man-eater.”  Of course, no one can prove it actually exists but there are still some locals who dare not enter the swamps alone.

Outside of the swamps, along the river’s edge, there were fishing camps and high-end homes where locals go to unwind on weekends.  While some were immaculate with manicured lawns and screened-in swimming pools, others were dilapidated shacks, straight out of a horror flick.

Though our tour group didn’t spot the swamp monster, we did learn a few things: Louisiana’s wetlands are vulnerable, oak trees don’t survive hurricanes and alligators really like marshmallows.

Julia’s Tips:

Dr. Wagner’s Honey Island two-hour swamp tour costs $23 per person, with reservations required. The launch point is a 45-minute drive from New Orleans (just 8km from the Mississippi state line). During the week, there is less boat traffic on the river, so weekday tours are often best for spotting wildlife.

Visit www.honeyislandswamp.com for more info.

Have you ever had any encounters with monster reptiles or mysterious swamp-things?  Leave a comment below!