Nancy OHare - Searching for Unique

To my indubitably inspiring partner and closest friend, Chad OHare, who has not only shared every adventure with me but transformed them through the camera lens into his own particular style. A few of my stories have even emerged from our late-night endeavours to capture that stunning shot. Why else would we hike to a lonesome peninsula on Portugals island of Madeira at one oclock in the morning? This unforgettable night, depicted in , was worth every lost minute of sleep. Thank you for making dinner to remind me we still had to eat when I became too absorbed in my writing and for gently encouraging me to refocus when I became distracted.

To my unwaveringly supportive parents, who have stood by me and have visited me nearly everywhere I lived around the world. My dad, Brian Veale, read and reread early drafts to help refine the writing and build interest. He somehow retains facts about almost everything: the Carpathian Mountains, Spanish forts, old cars, general history, geography, politicsjust about anything you might ever want to talk about. And if he does not know something, there is always, in his words, Mr. Google. Dad has the finesse to point out areas to tighten and improve while adding words of encouragement to carry on. My mom, Millie Veale, also an avid reader, never tired of reviewing draft versions, sharing my work with friends and family and following my progress, both in writing and when travelling the globe. Thank you both for being such positive influences.

To my dear friends and neighbours who read early chapters and provided fresh angles. Their insight helped to sharpen storylines and highlight nuances otherwise trapped inside my head. Thank you to Nancy McNair, Jim Schram and Caroline Smith, who all helped to ensure the stories carried the reader along on a worthwhile yet focused journey.

Thank you for sharing your perspective and time. This book is better because of your contributions.

I am often asked why I decided to write. I gave up a successful career in finance for which I had earned an executive MBA and a professional designation, a career that allowed me to live abroad and get paid for it. Simply, I wanted to refocus my energy towards a simpler, healthier lifestyle. And discovering new cultures has proven to me over and over how much I have yet to learn about our planet and how we are all connected.

Yet shards of animosity have surged in the current climate and have transformed into a virtual hailstorm pummelling our world. You can see the tension wearing people down. People with opposing views are becoming more isolated from each other and are unable to bridge or even discuss their misunderstandings with one another. At times it seems there is no common ground. Still, the more I travel and meet people from different backgrounds, religions and countries, the stronger my belief that we are more alike than not. So I ask myself, How can I help bring people together and make the world a better place?

This quest is an unanswered puzzle to which I cannot quite see all the pieces. For now, I will continue to travel. I will continue to write about these experiences in a way that presents a different perspective on a place or a population than what people might expect. I want to pull apart the walls of bias that shift and morph general perception. Instead of overlaying assumptions from our own culture, let us try to delve in and better understand why someone somewhere else does things differently.

In any case, why is being different considered so scary? Bananas have over a thousand different varieties. Are you scared of a banana? Orchids alone split into more than 25,000 species. Yet do florists wince when a mixed bouquet is placed on a table? When we set the dining table, we give each setting a fork, a spoon, a knife and maybe even a butter knife or soup spoon. Each utensil has its use, yet I have never heard someone say a knife is less worthy than a fork or try to ban a setting of teaspoons. People realize that these tools each offer value and it would be senseless to consider one better or worse than another. Difference is a necessity. It helps society function, to be more efficient and to have depth.

So peel away your assumptions and get ready to unwrap secluded places and far-off cultures. In the following pages, find contradiction that captivates and uniqueness that inspires.

My neighbour once asked me an important question about this book, a basic yet crucial perspective: Who is your intended readership? We sat down over a glass of wine, and after a few minutes of my rambling about discovering places most people do not consider venturing to, about the satisfaction of finding an awe-inspiring vista or unwrapping an ancient sight few have heard of, he summed it up magnificently. It is a book for travellers, not tourists.

I had two criteria for the stories and places included in this book. First, the destination had to be away from the main tourist track. Second, the experience had to have left a lasting impression. I was looking for unforgettable memories in incomparable places that most people never see. Thousands of people a year visit Icelands Skaftafell National Park, which showcases stunning natural glaciers, yet a days hike away lies the virtually vacant the same hilltop location where Buddhism was first introduced to Sri Lankawe were the only foreigners to join pilgrims practising century-old traditions during a poya (full moon) ceremony. Searching for Unique helps travellers uncover such enigmatic experiences in distant lands.

Whether you prefer active adventure or more subdued cultural encounters, the themes covered in these chapters are sure to ignite your desire to get out and explore our wondrous world. is for those who like the action of cities but still crave a vacation that feels a little obscure. Overall, these six chapters will take you across five continents, fourteen countries and over twenty-five specific destinations.

Every section recreates the essence of a place and concludes with on-the-ground travel advice. So whether you are an armchair traveller or you are planning your next trip abroad, this book will explore unexpected destinations that feed your travellers spirit.