Meet the GeoPassengers!

	Arti Srivastava, President My favorite toy as a six year old was a National Geographic globe. I was fascinated then, as I am now, by the incredible variety on our planet and by the fascinating cornucopia of adventures it offers. I crisscrossed it with crayons chartering my path over sky and navigating passage through the oceans. My childlike imagination took me over famed silk routes and through vast tracts of jungle. I dreamt of travelling far and wide, to exotic far away places. Fortunately for me, my dreams came true. And travel I did! Because it was an inherent inexorable passion, it drove me discover, savor, learn and enjoy over 30 countries across the globe. That globe that once appeared enormous to my child's eye seems to have shrunk visibly. What has not shrunk is this wanderlust to see more and to experience more. To draw parallels and to assimilate the history of humankind that in return allows me to learn more about myself. Travel has given me an education that transcends information. It has given me the enviable patina of experience and fascinating stories for the ages. It has given to me a spiritual understanding of the wider world and the rare judgement to find the right path within me. I graduated from Delhi University with Honors in History. A career with British Airways allowed me to roam the world and gave way to a dream of building a travel company. A forum where discerning travellers could find what they sought, a place to build a community of like minded people who appreciate the differences of our world and celebrate its universalities. I have a treasure trove of happy memories from my travels. Vividly speaking - #3 A stunning sunset over Cape Sunion in Greece was a transforming experience. I stood transfixed at the confluence of endless ocean and limitless sea.The burnished gold of the sky's canopy above my head melted into the azure waters of the Aegean and the Adriatic. Time stood still as I gasped at this moment of sun, sea and a very ancient land. I felt on me the gaze of Zeus and Poseidon and the eternity of their protection. #2 The richness and grandeur of the palaces and temples of Luxor in Egypt showcased in a sound-and-light show made an indelible memory for a history nut like me. Goosebumps gave way to a sense of awesome amazement as I felt transported to another time of mysticism and grandeur. A time of unprecedented glory of the acheivement of the human spirit. As I glided on the Nile, through Egypt's romantic heart, gazing at the colIosal works of art that dotted the arid landscape I was both Nefertari and Cleopetra, Conqueror and Queen. #1 The palpable serenity of the very spot Buddha found enlightenment is amazing. Amidst the heat and dust of rural India the branchlike spires of the Bodhi tree stand sentinel to the spiritual awakenings of that one Master of all Masters and many many disciples ever since. An outstanding shrine upholding the tenets of peace and nonviolence in our world, Bodhgaya is truly a blessed site for the ages - for the believer and the non believer alike.
	Naren Nath, Chairman Hello! My name is Naren. I am the Chairman of GeoPassage, which means that I identify trends in the industry and share my insights and perspectives with the team here at GeoPassage. My background is in high-tech - I had an undergrad and a Masters in Computer Science before I got my MBA from Stanford. I then worked several years at Microsoft, Trilogy, Unisys, etc. One thing however that has been a true passion of mine over the years is Travel. I am a die-hard Travel enthusiast! Travel is still the ultimate adventure in my book. It is engaging, enriching, enchanting, evocative, educational and endearing beyond belief. GeoPassage, hence, is a labor of love. We started GeoPassage because we absolutely love travel. But we could not find agencies and operators who were as passionate about the EXPERIENCE of travel, just the MECHANICS of it. So we developed a special competency in custom and theme-based travel all with an orientation towards delivering the best value for money. We now offer trips to over 80 countries, and power the travel offerings of major brands such as The History Channel. I have personally traveled to over 20 countries and over 30 states in the US - and have loved every single spot and experience I have ever had! However, if I had to pick my absolute favorites travel memoroies they would have to be: #3 - a picture perfect day sailing with my family from Capri to Sorrento on the Italian Amalfi Coast, with Positano and its houses dotting the mountain-side looking simply enchanting, docking in at Sorrento and sitting down for a fabulous Italian dinner, with a mandolin player stringing Lara's Theme at our table! #2 - a stunning New Years Eve on Rio's Copacabana Beach, with the rhythms and beats of 3 MILLION - that's right - 3 MILLION revelers all around me ushering in the new year with a fireworks display to put all others to shame, and a pulsating vitality unmatched anywhere in the world! #1 - a stirring day taking in the City Museum in the heart of India's valor and gallantry at Udaipur, easing into a gorgeous sunset over Lake Pichhola, and capped off with a magical dinner at the famed Lake Palace, with the moon shimmering across the marble walls and floors! If you love to travel, do share your fondest memories and experiences. And if we can help with any of your travel needs, just ask! Happy travels!
	Jamie Derrick Moore - General Manager of Travel Operations From my early days of touring the US with family, I cultivated a keen appreciation for travel. Always aware of my own ingrained Southern heritage, I am enchanted by how folks in other corners of the world live, work and identify with their own unique cultures. After college graduation, I embraced new experiences in the highlights of the west working in London, New York and Los Angeles before settling in Austin, TX. Being able to submerge myself into these various cultures provided a sense of understanding and appreciation for the sites, smells, sounds and tastes so different from my upbringing in South Carolina. I've always thought that travel is the best education and believe you have to experience something for yourself before truly comprehending it. For example, I used to think the Grand Canyon was pretty cool from pictures I'd seen in schoolbooks and on TV, but it wasn't until I was standing at the rim of canyon watching it with my own two eyes that I fully grasped its sheer enormity and striking beauty. Traveling to places outside the familiar teaches you not only about another society, but about your own strengths and weaknesses as well. Backpacking through Europe for 6 weeks by myself educated me in the differences of language, culture, cuisine and habit, but I also formed a tremendous awareness of how hard I could push myself before I broke and how best to pick myself up after falling into the unknown. Most importantly, I learned patience and tolerance which are things I happily carried back home and could share with my own community. While each travel experience is unique and unforgettable in its own right, my three favorites would have to be: 3) Watching the sun set over Athens from the rooftop of my hotel, sipping grappa from the hotel owner's personal stash, while the colors in the sky made the Acropolis look as though it was drifting in a pool of red, yellow and orange 2) Sailing the British Virgin Islands with my parents and sister when I was 14 - I finally understood the phrase "island paradise" and learned to salsa dance barefoot in a small beach bar on Virgin Gorda with a yacht full of Puerto Ricans 1) Nixing our honeymoon plans the night after the wedding in Jamaica and "winging it" for the remainder of the time; we hired a local to drive us around the island and ended up having the most delightful adventure swimming alone in pristine waterfalls, eating at pit stops in the middle of the road where only the locals dared to venture, and discovering a fantastic hotel built in the midst of lava rock grottos for our last few nights of relaxation.
	Megan Edwards - Travel Coordinator I caught the traveling bug on my first trip to Europe when I was 18. The trip opened eyes to so much. I was instantly intrigued by other cultures and could not get enough! Since then, travel has been a big part of my life and I foresee it being my lifelong passion. During college I was lucky enough to spend a semester in Spain. While studying abroad I took advantage of every available weekend traveling to various spots around Europe including Italy, Portugal and Morroco. I may be a bit biased from my time spent there, but Spain is by far my favorite European country. From the grace and passion of flamenco dancing to the honor and excitement of bullfighting, their culture is rich and vibrant. After graduation, I spent the summer backpacking with my best friend. In two months we fulfilled our childhood pact and visited France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Spain, and Ireland. It was my dream to travel to Ireland, so that part of the trip was very special to me. My mom's side of the family is from Ireland and my great-great grandfather went to Trinity University in Dublin. While I was there I was able to tour the campus which brought a strong sense of pride. The people in Ireland are the nicest I have ever met and they made me feel so welcome. I graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor's degree in International Business and a minor in Spanish. After college I just knew I had to submerse myself in the travel business. GeoPassage has given me the incredible opportunity to get people excited about travel. There is no greater feeling than hearing from a client who has just returned from one of our amazing trips and is forever enriched by the experience. My three favorite travel memories are: 1) Riding a camel across the desert in Morroco while watching the colorful sun set across the sand dunes. 2) Whitewater rafting in the Swiss Alps with my best friend in Interlaken, Switzerland. The snow capped mountains towering above us were breathtaking as we paddled through the icy yet refreshing river water. 3) Parasailing off the beach in Nice, France. Floating high above the Mediterranean Sea studying the distinct French architecture along the coastline is a feeling I won't soon forget. This winter, I'm heading to Asia for the first time to visit my brother in China. I have always dreamt of strolling along the Great Wall and look forward to learning about such a unique culture with so much history. I am very blessed to have the opportunity to travel there. Call GeoPassage and let us help you fulfill you travel dreams!
	Keri-Dawn Selinger - Destination Druid I often wonder where it came from, this travel 'bug', this wanderlust spirit. In my youth my family caravanned around the country in our Chevy Astro van from our home in Colorado. We adventured somewhere nearly every break, National Parks, State Parks or some other natural or cultural place of interest to my educator Father (or on the way to see the Grandparents). We didn't have the money to fly but that was great because my Father's tagline was 'You'll see and learn more from being on the ground!' And the licence plate game was fun! In fourth grade I knew I wanted to move to Switzerland one day, which I eventually did for a short while in my twenties. I've come to think, however that there is, in every human, an aspect of that pioneering - Mark Twain, Edmund Hillary, Siddartha or Shackleton - adventuring spirit. I believe that as hard as we try to grasp certainty in our lives that it's the uncertainty that lures us, sometimes kicking and screaming, home, so to speak. Unknown places and people within our souls and around our world, even in the universe beckon us, call to us and enchant us like a strong elixir. These calls evoke that adventuring spirit or its envious admiration. Why? New lands, people, cultures, religions, animals and food to which we uniquely are drawn teach us something about ourselves that we otherwise wouldn't have known. I have spent significant time in Central America, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, Morocco and Turkey. I have also traveled extensively throughout the US, about 35 states and almost all of the State and National Parks of the Western US, and also beautiful Hawaii. I have traveled five-star and zero-star, I've traveled with itineraries and also completely unplanned. Of all these travels I want to highlight 3 experiences: 1) Speaking with numerous Kurds all over Turkey, that is, in snags of Turkish, broken English and some French - learning that they are more then 40% of the population there! I had only heard about Kurdish people as a terrorist group in Turkey and America's allies in neighboring Iraq (yes odd), but the truth be told, about half the Turkish population is Kurdish and even more have a Kurdish relative. Moreover, until about 10 years ago, it was illegal to speak Kurdish in public, or display anything from the rich culture (dress, music or dance)- the government disseminating heavy fines and punishment. Shame and racism were rampant but it is now abating. I learned how to say hello is Kurdish ('Bashem') and boldly tried it out all over the country, I was met with surprise, prideful eyes and huge smiles that warmed my heart! Particularly the stoic security guy at the Bodrum airport. 2) High in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco we hiked to a Berber village. The Berber people have been around for thousands of years in the Western Sahara and the Atlas Mountains, continuously persecuted for their ancient, roaming ways. We visited a rug shop (Berber rugs are exquisite and highly sought after) and after some delicious mint tea (Berber 'whiskey') and a patience testing 4-hour negotiation, we had new friends and an amazing handmade Berber rug. And a beautiful reminder that life is about the PROCESS and not the destination! 3) Mt. Arenal, Costa Rica - this volcano amid the lush forest mountains is the place of myth and healing spring waters. I sat in one of the many hot springs drinking a delicious cocktail, the mountain towering in front of me. It was dusk and bright, red-hot lava was slowly oozing from the top of the volcano and moving snake like down the mountain. The world was alive and so was I! I urge every traveler to partner with their adverturing guide, to boldly embrace new eyes and the process (even if it's waiting in line for 3 hours for a bus!) and to open their hearts and voices to the world. As a new visitor you are as new to others as they are to you. Dare to surrender certainty, to open the door, the conversation. I bet you'll discover more than meets the eye, touch, or palete. I bet you'll see a reflection of something deeply fascinating and undiscovered about yourself. As Edmund Hillary stated, "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." Happy and Blissful Adventures- Bashem and Bisous, Keri-Dawn Selinger

GeoPassage Manifesto

We are an innovative online travel company based in Austin, Texas that offers you an unprecedented level of e-commerce capability, control and customization in planning and booking your vacation travel. GeoPassage.com actually enables people for the first time to fully customize their vacations, either on or off-line, according to their interests, needs and preferences, to any of GeoPassage's popular world-wide destinations.

Let us take you on the journey of a lifetime. Come explore and learn about any of our exotic international destinations. Plan and create the vacation of your dreams. Share your travel experiences with our growing community of worldwide travelers. Customize your travel according to your own personal interests, preferences and needs. Then simply book online and GO! It's that easy.

We invite you to experience the world - on your own terms, at your own pace, creating your own path. Welcome to the world of GeoPassage.

GeoPassage Offerings

GeoPassage offers a variety of ways to travel, you can book one of our specialty packaged tours, which range from family oriented trips (Digging for Dinosaurs is a favorite) to romantic getaways to Egypt or Italy as well as unique tours based on WWII (D-Day and Battle of the Bulge tour), American revolution, Alexander the Great, as well as cultural tours (Rajistan trip). As you can see our packaged tour offering is not just the run of the mill, its the extra-ordinary. To find a packaged tour you are interested in you can search by country or by theme *or* by both! But it does not stop there, we also offer the ability for one to create their own individual tour through our Custom Tour process! We offer fully customizable, private tours to 13 countries around the world!
You can use the menu to the left to search for a packaged tour, or go to our custom sites and start planning your unique custom tour!

GeoPassage Benefits

• A state of the art E-Commerce web site at www.geopassage.com, which allows you to learn, explore, share, create, plan and book your international trips. Whether you are an expert in the country you want to visit, or a complete novice, we can help you create your dream tour in a fraction of the time this would take you otherwise.
• Knowledgeable and friendly travel consultants who can guide you if you have any questions while booking a tour.
• An engaging and growing community of fellow travelers and travel enthusiasts with whom you may discuss the various destinations and attractions in the world, and develop joint travel plans.
• A select group of high quality international partners who deliver our tours in our destination countries with the ultimate in safety, style and comfort.