VANCOUVER Concept Store

Amanda Browne

I think my urge to travel started quite young, spending endless hours scanning over my Mum's photo albums from her epic cross continent journey from Beijing to London in the 70's. What a trip! By the age of 12 I knew all I wanted in life was to be able to explore the world and experience as many cultures as I could. It all started with my first trip to India at 16 on a school expedition trip, then at the tender age of 18 I moved out of home and across the other side of the world to England to live for a year. From my base of Oxford I was able to explore much of Western Europe, my highlights include Copenhagen, Paris, Munich and Rome. On return to my home country of Australia I completed a Bachelor degree in Leisure Management majoring in Tourism Management which has enabled me to continue to work and play in the tourism field! Since then I have been lucky enough to travelled to other areas of the world including China, Vietnam, Thailand, Borneo, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, South Africa and now my adopted country of Canada!

It is my great pleasure to be working for G Adventures and selling experiences of which for many, fulfills their wildest dreams. Travel is my passion and I hope to be able to share this with all of you!

Cynthia Connell

My travels began at the age of two when my mom took me around England, Scotland and France by car. Back in Canada, based in Ontario, I saw a little more of the country from the passenger seat every year...slowly feeding my passion, and eventual addiction to travel.

My first travels on my own led me to Mexico, which I love and have visited numerous times. On my fourth trip to Mexico I planned to work as a volunteer for six months to fully experience life there. I stayed for five years during which time I began working with G Adventures as a tour leader on trips through Mexico and Central America! I eventually moved back to Vancouver where I graduated from UBC with a degree in Latin American Studies and received my certification as a translator.

I have also travelled to Australia, Fiji, Thailand, Nepal,the Galapagos islands, Egypt, Peru to hike the Inca trail, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and, most recently, Argentina and Brazil. My next adventure will take me north in search of polar bears. When I'm not planning your vacations and adventures I can be found at the beach or park with my beloved basset hound, on the seawall training for my next big run or cheering on my favourite hockey team. Go Canucks go!!!

Mary Jean Mondragon

I grew up in Vancouver. My first trip big trip was to the Philippines with my family when I was nine years old. It was a very different lifestyle and I believe this particular experience enabled me to welcome new changes with ease. Years later, I went to Mexico with my school for a volunteer project. Again, I remember how taken aback I was with the difference in culture. As a result, I yearned to expose myself to new things and become more open-minded in everything I do.

After I finished high school, I moved to England to immerse myself in a different environment than the usual Vancouver routine. I travelled around Europe, visiting Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Austria and Spain. I was amazed by the impact of an unfamiliar place and I just wanted to keep going.

I took every opportunity I had to travel during my time off from school and made it to Thailand, Peru and Bolivia. It was after these trips that I decided to work where I could exercise my passion and values by sharing my experiences with others. I obtained my Bachelor of Business Administration, then joined the G Adventures team. I love encouraging others to travel to a place they’ve never been to before. The world is far too interesting to ignore. It's one of those things that, when you truly see it, you won't believe your eyes.