The Zen of Travel

Toulouse savors an Eichhoff and barli-biber at Trubsee Bar, Titlis, Switzerland

The Zen of Traveling–The Toulouse Way

The adventure of traveling the world is like experiencing a big sneeze–there’s often a huge build up of anticipation, and sometimes trepidation, followed by the orgasmic release of wonder, thrill and extreme satisfaction—Toulouse LeTrek

Toulouse LeTrek, sommelier and fine-dining connoisseur, travels the world in search of exotic adventure and unique experiences. He’s traveled from Paris to Bangkok and all everywhere in-between by plane, boat, car and even motorcycle. He’s even been known to use those itty-bitty paws of his and walk a few miles–but don’t ask him about swimming (“Icky!” says Toulouse).

For the sake of adventure, Toulouse has already braved many exotic adventures. He was drenched cave-tubing in Belize, climbed ancient Mayan temples in Costa Maya, rode a Harley in Cozumel, got lost in Paris and Altstadt Zurich, sat on a New York police man’s gun, then drank a few with staff at the Waldorf’s Bull & Bear. He was chased by a dog in Detroit, visited a plantation in Georgia, played in the snow in Whistler, dined with a prince in Switzerland, and drank too much on a Caribbean cruise… There are many more adventures to share, including one in space!

Toulouse’s philosophy on travel reflects his chosen way: to live life to the fullest.

 ”Measure your life not by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”–Toulouse leTrek  

“ A wise man in India once told me that the key to happiness is simple: ‘choose to be happy’,” says Toulouse. ”Yup. That simple. Choose to enjoy every aspect of the journey, even the ‘humdrum’ part of it; and I mean the security line ups and searches, body scans, delays, gate changes, etc. By adopting this attitude, you tend to relax, focus on the adventure and open yourself to experience. Ironically, people will react differently  to you. They will treat you as an explorer and respect you as a person, because you’ve compelled them to see you as one.”

“Getting the most out of your travels is a little like magic,” adds Toulouse. “It combines safety and security-smarts with having fun. The magic comes in how you mix these, so you don’t sink into the sweaty doldrums of paranoia on the one hand or get into trouble with security and miss your trip altogether on the other.” 

Toulouse LeTrek relaxes at home

“The best things in life come by ‘accident’,” says Toulouse. “My secret to having a good journey is the willingness to get lost… and enjoying it. It’s an art, how to get lost. The first thing you need to lose is your ego; because the fun part of getting lost is getting found.”

“You might call me an existentialist,” he adds. ”I’m the cool travel cat and I believe that everything has a purpose and what happens to us—how we react and what we create—is all part of our realizable path. So, when you miss that critical flight or get lost in a strange city or end up stranded in some foreign airport or ferry terminal, open yourself to the experience that you weren’t expecting. The likelihood is that you are about to have the adventure of a lifetime, the one you were meant to have.”

“Traveling the world opens windows to dimensions in yourself you never knew existed. Travel with class and give yourself the gift of excellence. Live the dream. Then share it with others.”–Toulouse LeTrek

Ah, the life of a COOL travel cat…

Toulouse gives more in-depth advice on the Zen of Travel in the following posts:

• Getting the Most Out of Your Flight
• The Karma of Flying
• Tips for Stress-Free Travel
• Getting the Best Seat on the Plane

For more information on Toulouse Letrek or how to contact him, see his Press Kit.

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