IUMy23 - Maya Northen

I am the owner and president of Chimera Travel in Collingswood, NJ. I started my business in March 2006 and I absolutely love it! I also recently began a travel e-magazine, TraveLuxe which just premiered it's first issue in March 2009. I thoroughly enjoy being able to combine my loves of writing and travel in this publication.

I began traveling abroad at the age of 16 and have since visited 6 continents (yet to visit Antarctica). I also lived/studied in Australia for 6 months in college, a fantastic experience that further developed my love of exploring and learning about different cultures and destinations. In addition to travel, I enjoy anything active or adventurous, exploring new places, discovering new restaurants, reading, writing, yoga and spending time with my friends and family.

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Joined on: March 24th 2008
Last Login: June 15th 2009

Blog Entries: 19
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Blogs & Travel Journals

by IUMy23, order by Date newest first.

By IUMy23
June 13th 2009

South Korea Keeps Its Cool Asia » South Korea » Seoul

Seoul Side Street

When I found out I had the opportunity to make a return visit to South Korea this past month, I was incredibly excited. Seoul is one of my favorite cities and during this trip I would have the chance to visit Busan as well. Then North Korea started testing missiles and making nuclear threats and riots broke out in South Korea over the suicide of their former president. Many people asked me if I would still be going. In fact, I was quite intrigued and excited to visit a country at such a historic time and have a first hand view [View Full Entry]

By IUMy23
March 24th 2009

Close Encounters of the Elephant Kind Africa » Botswana » North-West » Chobe National Park

Sunset on the Chobe
Sunset on the Chobe River

To access the Chobe area in northern Botswana, it’s easiest to fly into either Livingston, Zambia or Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. We chose Zimbabwe for two reasons. First, the visa requirements were less stringent - you can get a visa upon arrival for Victoria Falls, where as you need one ahead of time (or at least my research indicated this) to fly into Zambia. Secondly, it gave us the perfect opportunity to squeeze a trip to the falls into our already packed itinerary, which we probably wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise. The flight was quick and easy and we were [View Full Entry]

By IUMy23
March 24th 2009

Africa - Resort Style Africa » South Africa

Palace of the Lost City
One of the pool areas at the Palace

The first stop on our trip was in Sun City, South Africa. Every year the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) holds and International Destination Expo (IDE) in a different region of the world to educate travel agents on that region through educational seminars and first hand experience. This year, Sun City was the chosen destination and myself and my mom were attending. We wouldn’t have chosen Sun City as a destination in and of itself, but we couldn’t pass up the excuse to visit Africa and I do gain a lot of value from many of the opportunities offered [View Full Entry]

By IUMy23
March 24th 2009

If At First You Don't Succeed.... Africa » South Africa

On Saturday, March 7th we eagerly loaded up our luggage on the shuttle from the Comfort Inn for the five minute ride to JFK airport (we’d taken a transfer up the night before and stayed overnight). We knew we were going to be early, but hoped we’d be able to check out bags in an hour or two and then could just kick back, grab some food and wait for our flight to board. As expected, when we arrived at JFK we saw no check in line for South African Airways so waited patiently until we saw someone at the SAA [View Full Entry]

By IUMy23
March 3rd 2009

Putting on My Adventure HAt Africa

Putting On My Adventure Hat In four days I will depart on what I anticipate to be possibly the most exciting trip I have ever taken. It was certainly one of the most challenging to plan. Luckily, I like a good travel challenge! Every year the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) hosts there International Destination Expo (IDE) in a different area of the world to feature education on the surrounding destinations as well as suppliers that specialize in the region. Past expos that I have attended include Jeju, South Korea and Lyon France. This year, the IDE will be hosted [View Full Entry]

By IUMy23
February 10th 2009

"Retreating" in Punta Cana Central America Caribbean » Dominican Republic » Punta Cana

Putna Cana Beach
The beach outside of our Moon Palace Resort

Last weekend I had the fantastic opportunity to travel to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic as part of a (complimentary!) leadership retreat for my local chapter of MPI. We stayed at the Moon Palace Casino, Golf & Spa Resort, a brand new property which is still in the process of being finished and just had its soft opening a few weeks ago. This was my first time to the Dominican Republic and though I had heard various reviews from friends and clients, I always try to travel with an open mind to create my own impression of a new destination. [View Full Entry]

By IUMy23
December 14th 2008

Operation Working Vacation - San Francisco North America » United States » California » San Francisco

Union Square Christmas Tree
The Christmas Tree in Union Square!

I am currently in San Francisco on a “working vacation” with my boyfriend. I have heard so much about this city, and yet much to my chagrin had never set foot anywhere near it until yesterday at around 11:20 AM. (My parents might beg to differ on this as I may have been here when I was under a year old, but if so I do not remember it and therefore do not count the visit). We are here until mid-day Wednesday, but as my boyfriend has something work-related most of the day Tuesday and the weather is supposed to be [View Full Entry]

By IUMy23
May 30th 2008

Touring Seattle's Neighborhoods North America » United States » Washington » Seattle

Seattle Skyline
View from our cruise in the harbor

I started this blog sitting in Seatac Airport and am now finishing at home, so it's a bit delayed but my thoughts none the less. As I mentioned in my last post, I wanted to get a different view of Seattle this time around, just for perspective's sake, and I think I have accomplished my goal. Since Liz and I both love the water, we decided to do the Argosy Cruise of the Locks which included the harbor, a view of the various neighborhoods from the water and passing through the locks, which move the boat from the salt water of [View Full Entry]

By IUMy23
May 27th 2008

Seattle Revisited North America » United States » Washington » Seattle

Fremont Waterfront

Welcome to Seattle! I chose the title for this entry because I have been to Seattle before, but this time I get to look at it with a whole new set of eyes. When I visited five years ago, it was a family vacation and we stayed with my sister in West Seattle, which is a more suburban section of Seattle. This time I am on a "girls getaway" with my cousin Liz and we are staying at the Westin which is right downtown, a mile or less from basically all of the major sites. This time I am also looking [View Full Entry]

By IUMy23
May 25th 2008

Chicago and the Burbs North America » United States » Illinois » Chicago

This time my travels take me a little closer to home for the wedding of a college friend. I have been to Chicago 4 or 5 times (in fact this is my 3rd time within the last 12 months) but this time I am traveling solo and am actually staying in Itasca, a suburb Northest of the city. At first, I was a bit skeptical about staying so far outisde of the city and of course, I would love to be downtown but I must say the hotel is wonderful - more on this in a minute - and for $5 [View Full Entry]

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