COMPANY HISTORY
n 1977, William Gearhart left his career as Marketing Director for a large banking network to begin WORLD TRAVELS, a full service tour operator. Nancy Gearhart left teaching and joined forces with her husband in the business and they have been successfully working together for 32 years. They created unique weekend getaways for skiing, white water rafting, hot air ballooning, spa retreats and theatre weekend packages. The company then added Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii and other domestic destinations to the mix. Their clients were all the banks in New York and New Jersey under the American Institute of Banking, and the employees of several large insurance companies. WORLD TRAVELS went on to become the tour operator for Amtrak by creating the “Party Train” concept, featuring party and dance trains for weekend getaways. Featured getaways were the “Disco Train” and “Party Train” to Montreal and Virginia Beach, the “Midnight Train to Georgia” to Atlanta, and the “Carabana” Train” to Toronto. These programs include unlimited music and dancing, deluxe hotel accommodations, access to local clubs and hotspots and sightseeing. The company expanded to create 20th Century Limited Tours and the “Murder Mystery” Trains, with interactive murder mystery getaways to Montreal, Washington and Chicago. The cast of actors and actresses would board the train and interact with a group of 100 guests to enjoy the intrigue and excitement of solving the medley of murder and mystery on the tracks. The “Murder Mystery” trains popularity led to features on the TV shows “That’s Incredible” and “PM Magazine”. Popular with leisure and corporate clients alike, this quickly became a venue for special occasions and employee incentives, attracting notable names like Yogi Berra, who celebrated his 60th birthday on the train with family and friends.
RAJIV
NAME - Rajiv Rajesh Makwana
ID - TP044124
INTSTITUTE - Asia Pacific University
HOBBIES - photography and design, traveller
I love the simplicity of it all. My only job is to go somewhere and figure out how to do it. My to-do list is rather short: figure out the exchange rate and get cash out of an ATM, figure out a few key words in the native language, figure out transport to my lodging and around town, exchange books (find English used bookstore), do laundry every 2 weeks or so. Because I travel for longer periods, occasionally I also have to: get a haircut and buy new clothes to replace ratty, holey old ones. Everything you own is with you in one bag. You only have a few pairs of pants or t-shirts, so getting dressed each day is an easy task. The more we have, the more it seems to weigh us down. Your life isn’t complicated by all the nonsense that is back home. But, guess what? If you really need a new shirt or shoes… you can buy it anywhere in the world. There is not much we actually really need and I think in this mega-consumerist society, we too often forget that. You need food and you need shelter… that’s about it. I enjoy some love, laughter, and happiness too… but that’s free and takes up no space in my luggage.
JIMMY
NAME - JIMMY
ID - TP044124
INTSTITUTE - Asia Pacific University
HOBBIES - photography and design, traveller
love the rush. Habitual runners get off on the kick-in of endorphins that give them that extra boost they need to keep going. I get the same jolt from a day of travel or an unexpected side trip to a new and undiscovered land (for me… not for all mankind) that I hadn’t planned to visit. Traveling seems to give me a near constant adrenaline rush. After a few years of uninterrupted travel, I became quite addicted to this feeling. Traveling can be a challenge, but to me, a fun challenge that I enjoy conquering time and time again. Plus it sure beats having to vacuum, pay bills, or shop for toilet paper.
I love the simplicity of it all. My only job is to go somewhere and figure out how to do it. My to-do list is rather short: figure out the exchange rate and get cash out of an ATM, figure out a few key words in the native language, figure out transport to my lodging and around town, exchange books (find English used bookstore), do laundry every 2 weeks or so. Because I travel for longer periods, occasionally I also have to: get a haircut and buy new clothes to replace ratty, holey old ones. Everything you own is with you in one bag. You only have a few pairs of pants or t-shirts, so getting dressed each day is an easy task. The more we have, the more it seems to weigh us down. Your life isn’t complicated by all the nonsense that is back home. But, guess what? If you really need a new shirt or shoes… you can buy it anywhere in the world. There is not much we actually really need and I think in this mega-consumerist society, we too often forget that. You need food and you need shelter… that’s about it. I enjoy some love, laughter, and happiness too… but that’s free and takes up no space in my luggage.
JASPER
NAME - YE BOHJENG
ID - TP044124
INTSTITUTE - Asia Pacific University
HOBBIES - GAMING,traveller,
Ever since I was a kid, just going around the ‘next bend’ on my bicycle, I have always loved the adventure of travel – the unknown, something different, something new. And I feel the same way today… even though now the ‘next bend’ may be on another continent. I have been extremely lucky to continuously feed my passion for travel. Many out there share my passion while others do not. But, why do I love it so much? love the logistics. I like landing in a new place and trying to figure it all out myself. Where to get money. How to speak the language. How to go from point A to point B. How to pack my bag right so I don’t go insane after packing it for the 135th time. Well, okay, maybe I don’t love that mundane task, but I still figure it’s better than all the tedious chores I left back home when I decided to travel. It all actually becomes easier and easier as it goes and gives you the sense of confidence that you can do anything. If I can plop down in an airport amidst the chaos of Cairo or hubbub in Hanoi and manage to get myself into the heart of town and find a place to stay, all the while, not getting ripped off and keep my sense of humor, then I am certainly not really worried about being able to go anywhere, anytime.
SHALIQUE
NAME - YE BOHJENG
ID - TP044124
INTSTITUTE - Asia Pacific University
HOBBIES - READING,BOXING,
I love the excitement of it all–feeling like an explorer–discovering a new land, a new language, new money and all the little challenges that go along with it. When I travel, I am more spontaneous and don’t live for the future or the past… just in the moment. Being impulsive and saying ‘yes’ to nearly everything is part of the fun.