A year in review

It is hard to believe that just one year ago I was sitting in this same exact seat against the backlit window of the United Lounge at Newark Liberty International Airport. As I sit and sip a delicious mimosa, I watch massive 777 planes take off to Beijing and Mumbai, or local 737's land and depart domestically to locations like Miami or Houston. Every single person has a unique traveling story which is why I find airports so relaxing, some may be traveling for work and many others for pleasure. 

It is safe to say a lot has changed since last year - for the better of course! First off, it was exactly one year ago to the day that I was sitting here in Newark Airport launching this concept of a photo journal / blog whilst on my way to study abroad in the south of France. WHEREISPER was born to inspire my friends and followers to dive into the vast world in which we live. Getting out and creating your own stories are far more superior than reading Buzz Feed articles 'top destinations in your 20s' type of thing. With that being said, I have had the absolute best time sharing my journey via photo stories and blog posts with those who are interested. Within the last year alone WHEREISPER has been viewed in nearly 1,300 cities and 100 countries worldwide, a numerical figure that far surpassed any goal I had ever intended for when launching this concept of a website. With destinations like France, Italy, Sweden, Germany, Austria, India and Nepal added to the list in 2013, I have much greater plans for travel during the start of summer in 2014. With my relocation to Germany, I am making it a personal goal to take WHEREISPER to the next level and be much more consistent with photo stories & posts making things easier to follow and interesting to read. 

Here are a few of my favorite moments from the past year - I am looking forward to sharing what the future holds for me as I start a new chapter in my life. 

Speak soon, 

Per 

Cannes, France. June 2013

Sun bathing, Studying & Wine tasting.  

Sicily, Italy. July 2013

Sailing on The Yacht Week, Sicilian Road Trips & Volcano Trekking 

Sweden. August 2013. 

Flying in Gothenburg, Sailing the archipelago, interning & Summer BBQs. 

Chamonix, France. December 2013.

Sun, Ski & Snow - need I say more?

Berlin - Dec/Jan 2014.

New York, New York. January 2014. 

Arctic Tundras & Sunday Brunches 

Munich, Germany & Obertauren, Austria. March 2014. 

Beer gardens, Hostels & The Ski Week. 

India & Nepal. March 2014. 

Overnight trains, Traditional Curry Dishes, Tuk-Tuks, Silk Factories & Elephant Baths. 

Alsace, France. April 2014. 

Easter, Wine Tastings & The Eiffel Tower. 

Route Du Vin: Alsace, France

If you're a wine enthusiast (or want to become one), enjoy the country side, good company & vineyards for miles upon miles, I would highly suggest making your way to the Alsace Wine Route in France. The wine route is one of the oldest in the region and gives you the opportunity to drive or bike through nearly 70 of the CUTEST wine growing villages I have ever seen. Spending Easter here was the perfect place to wander through castles, taste the white wines of the region, munch on freshly baked sweets while experiencing the quaint country side bed and breakfasts the region has to offer.  The Route du vin is the perfect place to road trip for a 36 hour weekend trip, while giving you the opportunity to taste local wines - not to mention the perfect gift to bring back home! 

Suggested Towns: 

Kaysersberg, Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr & Colmar 

Feel free to contact me for more information about where to stay and what to do, i'd love to help you plan your trip. perrirothenberg@gmail.com 

 

Tuk Tuk Talks: Jaipur

Deep in the pink city of Jaipur, India I had the pleasure of meeting a 21 year old Indian tuk tuk driver who's enthusiasm for life created an aurora of cosmic energy that could make anyone smile. With his initial french impressions, to his "No College No Knowledge" quote this driver knows how to take life with a grain of salt - after all he has 101 girlfriends. 

THE SKI WEEK

#werideTSW

For those who have experienced The Yacht Week you know the feeling when you watch the youtube videos of hundreds of like minded party-goers diving into the Mediterranean sea or the feeling of being sun-kissed sailing around the Aeolian islands with a cold drink in your hand. For those who haven't I highly suggest it, because just as they admit - it really is nothing like the real world. For those who may not know me, I would trade in my Rainbows and Vix bikini for a pair of K2 skis and my Canada Goose Jacket any day of the week. So when the idea of The Ski Week came about I felt the urge to experience something new and obviously something very similar to that of The Yacht Week - only on skis, in the alps - more specifically Obertauren, Austria. With a previous trip already planned, I was pretty bummed when I found out I wouldn't be able to make it to this inaugural episode of fresh snow, sun & of course an incredible après ski (a concept the USA has yet to adopt).  A few days before the week began an opening in a friend of a friend of a friend's flat (of whom I had never met - just another benefit of sailing the yacht week) had opened up and voila! I was joining ski week -- well, 1/2 ski week (which is better than no ski week at all - & so it began).

I Had arrived in Munich one day before The Ski Week began with no place to stay, and no plans since everyone was arriving the next day. After doing some research (Facebook stalking) I found a lovely, group of Americans predominately living in Seattle, but from San Fran, Canada, New York & Georgia who were gathering in Munich for an afternoon of sightseeing (Beer gardens) and casual drinking (more beer gardens) who were kind enough to adopt me into their crew for 24h, and let me be the first to tell you, this group was not messing around. From the moment I walked into the Wombat Hostel in Munich, these fine gentleman were ready to go. By the next day, and a 2h train ride to Salzburg we ended up on a giant bus to Obertauren (aka the ski week) with 50 others from across the world. Only a group from The Ski Week would kindly ask the driver to stop at a gas station in the middle of no where not to use the toilets, but to buy an assortment of adult beverages for the two hour ride through the Austrian Alps. --- 2 hours later our bus arrived in Obertauren, and one could feel the anticipation as we saw fresh snow falling onto country flags draped from balcony windows. It was like Christmas, but better

Accommodation: 

Unlike The Yacht Week, TSW's accommodation did not move, was slightly (and by slightly I mean significantly) more spacious, had fresh water along with big balconies to let in the fresh crisp air from the alps. They were cozy, chalet inspired flats with kitchens, fluffy down bed linens and modern appliances perfect for everyone's taste. Each Building was equipped with a sauna, jacuzzi, bar and of course wonderful hospitality from the brave hotel staff willing to host 400 ski weekers. It was like hoping from boat to boat, only from flat to flat. All you had to do was follow the music and everyone door was always open to welcome in guests. 

The Days: 

From Icelantic Ski Demo's, Pop-up Champagne Bars, Jacuzzi's equipped with rubber duckies & all, the Ski Week did not fail when it came to keeping ski weekers busy & constantly partying. I personally woke up early to catch the pistes while they were still fresh (well worth it if I may add) but within a few hours we had the locals confused by shredding down the mountain in onesies, golden spandex tights, tuxedos, neon crop tops & of course lederhosen - they loved it. The weather couldn't of have been better for such an event, a couple days with fresh snow & a couple days sporting spring skiing at its finest - tank tops & light jackets. The Ski Week had specific places to meet for lunch, or to grab a drink (jäger, beer, or Champagne - pick your poison) on the mountain if you wished to take a break from the mountain (we usually followed the great music and popping champagne bottles "pool"  side.) 

Après Ski 

It wouldn't be The Ski Week, or skiing in the Alps without an amazing Après ski. The major difference from skiing in Obertauren on a normal week verses ski week was the amazing music, locations & mind set of 400 people with a week off from work ready to party. Dancing on tables, Girls in bikinis, guys in tights, mini jäger bottles being passed around all in ski boots from mid afternoon to late night sounds about accurate. Every. Single. Day. Walking home at 10pm in your ski boots - normal. I have had the opportunity to participate in Après ski in the french alps, swiss alps, italian alps, but it has never been as good as The Ski Week's après. The best part was that the party kept going in the apartment buildings throughout the night just like The Yacht Week. 

Overall TSW team did an amazing job integrating the best aspects of TYW to the alps for the first ever Ski Week. I was very interested to see how they were going to do it, and I am very glad I got to be apart of something great. Wifi on the mountain to make sure everyone can find the pop-up champgane bar - genius. I wish i was there to witness the late night ski with torches, and the final closing party but I guess I will have to save that for next time when TSW brings après ski to the USA.

Reasons to experience the ski week?

1. It really is nothing like the real world.

2. You'll make international friends that will last a lifetime.

3. A Perfectly Planned / Unplanned Party. 

4. Who doesn't like to ski in costumes?

5. The inflatable  swans from Yacht Week made a debut on the slopes. 

Yacht Week or Ski Week? I would say both. I experienced TYW in Italy last summer, and it was amazing, but The Ski Week is entirely different in a good way. Just Book It so you can have your own stories. www.theskiweek.com

Questions? Feel free to ask!

Cheers from India - Speak soon. 

Per 

Indian Night Trains

15 hours from Orchha - Varanasi (India)

I would like to say that I have slept in some rather interesting places including the floors of Newark Airport, a room above a pub in Ireland, or an overnight train from Beijing to Xi'an, China. For those who know me they know I will sleep pretty much anywhere, but nothing compares to that of an overnight train in India.

Train Station at 10:30pm filled with tons of people, cows, dogs & noise. 

The train station itself is out of a movie, I can imagine average train stations across the world would probably be slowing down for the evening at 10pm as the last few trains approach - which is not the case in Orchha , India. As our Tuk tuk approached the station the hustle and bustle of the night was just getting started. Hundreds upon hundreds of people gathered outside the station sleeping in rows with packed sacks of items to take back to their local villages , or the more harsh reality was because the overly populated India left these people with no where else to sleep.

As We entered the station we were greeted with women in colorful sari's , men in punjabi's, barking stray dogs, and cows taking an evening stroll literally on the train tracks. As each and every train approached, I sat and watched as people sprint alongside the train while progressively hopping on and off in hopes of getting a spot on the second class car (which is not air conditioned , has no beds, and has bared windows as if it were out of a jail.)

Our class was T3-AC which has 64 beds in one train car with 8 beds per compartment although each and every bed is open. I have never in my life seen anything quite like it - the atmosphere was parallel to a crowded concert line or Times Square in NYC (stressful, smelly, loud foreign sounds, and even stronger foreign smells). As I approached seat 32 (my home for the evening - also the direct middle
Of the train car) I realized there were 6 Indian men sitting across from me, barefooted - staring at me as if I were an alien from another planet. It's quite understandable considering the man to woman ratio on this train car is probably 29:5. I settled in to my middle bunk and watched as people pushed their way through to find their bed (pepper spray in hand).

The light above my head flickered for hours as if I were in an underground night club in Berlin , men walked by stopping to stare, the aroma was strongly influenced by garlic, curry and body oder while the car festered at a uncomfortably warm temperature. I knew I was in for one hell of a ride when I realized this was my home for the next 15 hours as we made our way from Orchha in MP to The holy city of Varanasi.

9 hours later I woke up to an entirely different group of men sitting watching me sleep - safe to say I was mildly petrified but flashed a smile and turned around. this was certainly an experience for the books that made me not only very appreciative for the luxury of space, but it was also amazing to see a society interact in a situation that I would consider similar to that of a cattle car.

Proud to say after a 4 hour delay we made it to the city of Varanasi in which I fell down a crowded staircase of a hundred people. Sounds typical!

Speak soon,
Per

Colorful India

Exploring India by day & night --- Delhi & Jaipur

The Time has Come.

Ever since I can remember I have been waiting for this day. Not in any particular rush, but rather the day in which I can navigate a path for myself in any direction I desire. Four years ago I came to the Savannah College of Art and Design on an academic and artistic scholarship to pursue photography. I enjoyed taking photos on family trips to China, and Switzerland but I had never actually considered what career path I would follow. Four years later, I am graduating with my BFA in Fashion Marketing and Management and concentration in Business Entrepreneurship (well isn't that a mouthful). On a daily basis I am constantly asked "So Perri, Where will you go next? What will you do? What is your plan?" To be honest, I think it would be rather closed minded of me to have a direct answer because I don't think anyone ever knows. Throughout my experiences thus far I will be able to make a decision on where I will move and what job I will take because it fits in with my personal wants and needs as of this very moment in my life.  

With that being said, there is one thing I do know. I will keep on traveling. There are only a few years of every person's life where one can explore, dream, desire and live with no barriers. I have the ability to live inexpensively and simplistically in a place I love because there is nothing holding me back. For the next month, I will be traveling to Germany, Austria, India and Nepal. From skiing in the alps to backpacking throughout India and Nepal there truly are no words to describe my excitement. I hope to have the opportunity to capture the emotions of diverse cultures and the people of whom I am surrounded by to inspire you to take a moment out of your life to travel. 

I have recently been asked several questions on how to fund trips. There are a variety of ways to save money while traveling. There are plenty of opportunities to pursue a short term (3-6 month contracts) as an Au Pair, English teacher, Chalet Host, freelance designer, etc. It may not be a high paying job, but it will give you the opportunity to see the world in a way that has changed my life. If you are traveling with friends post-grad I suggest staying in hostels, splitting food costs and buying a few books to guide you along the way. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have as you plan a trip - I am happy to help. 

Anyways, I leave for the airport on Thursday, March 13 and will be returning one month later. I will try to upload photos on instagram @perrirothenberg, and will post when I return home.

Speak soon, 

Perri 

The Warehouse Fire: Savannah, GA.

As I was sitting in The Coffee Fox slaving my life away to vector graphics on Adobe Illustrator I kept noticing tourists and residents of Savannah, Georgia taking photos of Broughton Street. Although Broughton Street embodies charm, people are usually not so enthusiastic about taking such detailed photos. As I went outside to get some fresh air I realized why people were so interested. There it was; a blazing fire the size of a tornado painting the Savannah sky black. The old photography student in me was fascinated by the beauty of such a disaster. I took a little field trip to South Carolina to get as close as I possibly could.

The fire was caused by 5600 TONS of rubber burning at the ocean port. 

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German Toys: Berlin.

Abandoned Soviet Union Military Base in a forest outside of Berlin. 

Taken with iPhone 5S. Perri Rothenberg. 

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