Owners Bio

 

 

 

I would like to introduce myself. My name is Yvonne, and I am the owner of “Unda Merchandise." I worked in the travel industry for over 40 years as an international travel expert. During the past 40 years I have traveled extensively and have lived in Indonesia, The Netherlands, Portugal, England, and Italy. Each place I have visited has something unique to offer, and I have several favorite destinations. 

Places I have visited: Bali, Indonesia, is my favorite island. The Balinese people are humble and genuine. Stunning natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, friendly locals, and beautiful beaches are just part of the beauty of the island of Bali. Italy is my favorite destination in Europe. The culture and history are so rich. My husband and I lived in Florence, Italy, for five years and even purchased a home in the beautiful "Tuscany" area, where, in my opinion, the best wines come from. The first time I went to a "deli' in Florence, I ordered a "man" instead of eggs! The man was very obliging! I have written a book about our adventures during the time my husband and I lived in Florence (1980–1985). It is available for purchase on Amazon's website. The book is entitled "Here we come, Italy.". 

On a Royal Nepal Airline flight from Bangkok, Thailand, to Kathmandu, Nepal, the flight attendant gave everyone a snack. The label on the snack read "tit-bits"! I'm sure the men on the flight enjoyed the "tit-bits" more than the ladies did! Nepal is the most fascinating country I have visited. I had the opportunity to stay at "Tiger Tops" (a hotel built on stilts), which is located at Chitwan National Park, and personally saw a "Bengal Tiger." I could not believe what a beautiful animal "Bengal" tigers are. I also had the opportunity to ride elephants. That was quite an adventure. In the middle of the jungle, the elephant's tail kept swaying back and forth and managed to hit my friends' contact lenses. She was not about to look for it with all kinds of scary and dangerous creatures lurking around. Fortunately, she brought her glasses. I also trekked for ten days on one of the mountains located near Kathmandu and had my own personal "Sherpa." I slept in a tent in the freezing cold weather! Sherpas prepared our breakfast, lunch, and dinner on an open fire.

I spent six months exploring many different islands in Greece and managed to drink too much "ouzo,” and at times I did not know which island I was on! I spent one month on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean and managed to visit ten different countries in thirty days and loved every moment of it. I also had the opportunity to ride on a camel in Egypt. The owner of the camel charged me 1 US dollar to get on the camel and 10 US dollars to get off! Owning a camel near the Pyramids is a very good business!

Upon arrival at my friends house in Saigon, (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam, two local authorities were waiting for us. They requested our passports and kept them for the duration of our trip. Upon departure, our passports were given back to us with one condition: we had to pay USD 50 to get them back. This would not have happened if we stayed at a hotel. This kind of action occurs in most developed or underdeveloped countries. 

Rio de Janeiro is a captivating and intriguing city. I have never encountered so many different nationalities get along with each other so well, and the way they danced was absolutely amazing. I love Asia and have visited exotic destinations such as Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia on several occasions. The Asian people make you feel at home, and their hospitality is heartwarming. When swimming in the beautiful ocean in Cascais, Portugal, I tried my new "paper bikini," and after 10 minutes in the water, I ended up "nude" with just a piece of string hanging down my neck! Fortunately, there was no one around except for the "fish," which hovered around me until I put my clothes back on! When visiting Israel, I had the opportunity to visit "Golan Heights" and ended up dodging bullets flying in all different directions! When exploring one of the "Pyramids" in Egypt, I managed to get lost, and I thought I would end up being "mummified"—lucky for me, my tour guide found me! 

I loved working in the travel industry. I believe that travel "broadens one's horizons." Learning and experiencing different cultures fascinates me. Visiting and actually living in a different country is not the same. I learned a great deal about diversity and culture. It is through that experience, that I learned to value my own culture and to respect other "savoir-faire" equally. It is important travelers realize that the reason for traveling is to experience new adventures and to accept the way of life in each country as is. I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience all the wonderful and memorable times I spent in this fascinating world we live in. Travel is not the same as it was 20/30 years ago, and it is becoming more difficult and challenging with all the unrest in this world; however, in my opinion, it is still the best way to experience culture and diversity.

In total, I have visited approximately 40+ countries and have completely immersed myself in their fascinating cultures and diversity. I've gained a profound appreciation for the beauty and uniqueness of our world. These unforgettable experiences have shaped my perspective and ignited a passion to share the richness of global traditions. Through my work, I aim to bring a touch of that wonder and inspiration to others, connecting people with stories, products, and ideas that celebrate the incredible tapestry of our planet." It has been my dream to have my own e-commerce website for a very long time, and my only regret is that I wish I had done it earlier. I hope you are able to find something that you like or need.

"I am proud to have graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Administration. My college years were a transformative experience, providing me with valuable knowledge and skills that have shaped my personal and professional growth. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to pursue higher education, as it has equipped me with the tools and confidence to succeed in my future endeavors."