A winner with Kumuka!
Its great to hear stories by winners and like many Aussies Claire Purcell, daughter of industry icon Pat Purcell, loves to travel and she says at every chance she packs and off she goes!
Claire decided in January 2006 to apply for a job in Hawaii and was successful, but resigned from her job as a job search trainer in Redfern (helping the unemployed get back into work) because she was due to move over to Oahu to begin work with the YMCA in March.
Unfortunately, early one February morning she was on her way to the local pool when she was hit by a car on a zebra crossing, was unable to move and had to focus on her recovery, on NYE making a decision, that 2007 was going to be the year of travel.
Now, having Mum in the travel industry has helped and she says she had booked a trip to Hawaii for February with her mother, [Pictured: Claire in Hawaii] with also a trip to Thailand in March with friends she decided to make a few extra bookings!
So how did Claire and TravelMole get connected? Well, Claire says that her Mum was reading TravelMole when she entered a competition to win two tickets to the Adventure Travel Expo and was very excited to find that she had won tickets.
Pat could not go so Claire went with a close friend and they explored the expo planning trips all around the world (she says your imagination is the only limit!) trying to justify going to the bank to hit them up for a bigger loan.
Asia, Africa, North America, Europe, South America, Australia – she says, oh my many decisions to make, and wishing to get travelling but short of funds, they entered every competition possible hoping they would win an adventure!
[Pictured: Claire in Thailand]
After the inspiration of the expo she also booked a trip to New Zealand in June and a trip to Malaysia in September, but the amazing thing is that upon her return from Hawaii she received a letter from Kumuka advising she had won their major Expo prize Expo of a 5 week Kumuka tour of Africa. So she is off to Africa with Kumuka in November!
And not only that, Claire says that after learning more about Kumuka and their operations she has decided to book a trip with Kumuka through Europe in June and July this year, but could not afford it until she saw a special deal on Getaway and got 50% off her tour to Europe!
Claire says that as one can imagine, her boss isn’t very happy with her and she is prepared to resign to continue her travels later in the year, adding that her friends think that she is constantly on holidays and that her job is just one big holiday!
Claire said, “To me traveling is all about the unknown; always expect the unexpected and don’t forget to pack your sense of humor – because you will need it!”
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