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Geri Halliwell-Horner: Embracing Curiosity Through Travel

Geri Halliwell-Horner, widely recognized as Ginger Spice from the iconic Spice Girls, showcases her adventurous spirit as she travels the world, embodying a relentless curiosity that fuels her experiences. This curiosity is not only a defining trait but also a driving force behind her global explorations.

In a recent conversation with Travel + Leisure, Halliwell-Horner expressed her insatiable curiosity: “I’m Miss Curious. I don’t care what it is. I think everything’s interesting.” This mindset has propelled her into various experiences that blend adventure with personal growth.

Halliwell-Horner delved into her adventurous side with her YouTube series, Rainbow Woman, which debuted in 2020. The show features her engaging in a range of activities, from beekeeping to camping, all framed as part of a “girl power adventure of discovery.” However, not every experience resonates with her equally.

Reflecting on her camping ventures, she said, “I actually think camping is quite suffocating when you’ve got that canvassing over your head. I found it a bit claustrophobic.” Instead, she treasures open-air experiences, like a memorable night spent in the Arabian Desert where the star-studded sky left her in awe: “The stars seemed so close to me. It was the most enchanting thing.”

Adventure is a frequent companion for Halliwell-Horner. Whether enjoying a serene day at the beach or tackling mountain climbs, her travel experiences are diverse. She reminisces about a hike on Table Mountain in Cape Town and an unexpected snowstorm she encountered while ascending a peak in Austria, resulting in a memorable and challenging day: “It was a bright sunny day, so I went up in my shorts, but by the time I got to the top, there was a snowstorm!” she recalled. Despite the adversity, she found it worth the trouble, later penning a song inspired by the experience.

Quickfire Travel Preferences with Geri Halliwell-Horner

Aisle or window?
Window, I think.

Best place for a solo getaway?
I took my dog to the south of England by the ocean. It was just beautiful. The weather wasn’t brilliant, but it was fantastic. I still went in the cold ocean—I think it’s so good for you.

Must-pack essential?
I do like a notebook. There’s something wonderful about a brand new notebook with that crisp page—I love it! I might sound like such a geek!

Dream travel destination?
I want to see the polar bears in Alaska and have looked into it, but apparently, my kids need to be a certain age. Still, I also love enjoying a cup of tea on a beach.

Describe your idea of a perfect vacation.
I’d want to be on a quiet, rural beach with fine sand, not too hot, just right. Ideally, I would enjoy some plain cake, too.

Though Halliwell-Horner is celebrated for her musical achievements, her literary endeavors have garnered notable acclaim as well. Her young adult novel, “Rosie Frost & the Falcon Queen,” made it to the New York Times Best Sellers list in 2023, highlighting her ability to channel her travel experiences into creative works.

When discussing her writing process, she noted that ideas often emerge during her travels. “A song idea is like a coffee espresso shot, while a book is a feast that allows you to appreciate the power of words,” she explained. Her fascination with places such as Tresco, a subtropical island off the Cornish coast, inspired the creation of Bloodstone Island in her fiction. Additionally, a visit to Mount Fuji sparked ideas for her follow-up book, “Rosie Frost: Ice on Fire.”

Ideas can strike her at any moment, even at 30,000 feet, as she once noted, “I wrote down ideas on the evacuation instructions in the back of the seat pocket and a sick bag because I just didn’t want to forget it.” Her notes reflect her passion for capturing inspiration whenever it arises.

This isn’t her first foray into writing; Halliwell-Horner promoted her previous series, Ugenia Lavender, with tours across the U.S., ensuring to visit every city’s bookstores. Her love for books is so profound that she finds herself lost among the shelves, reflecting, “It’s almost like I need an adult to pull me away.” She consistently carries books, often juggling multiple titles of different genres at once.

Her local bookstore favorite is Daunt Books in Marylebone, cherished for its ambiance and selection. She has a special appreciation for second-hand shops, finding comfort in the unique smell of old books.

For Halliwell-Horner, the interplay between travel and literature is a transformative experience. “Traveling opens your mind as reading does,” she said. “Sometimes our thoughts are like a muddy pond, but clearing them out can reveal what we truly desire.”

This transformative journey mirrors the themes in “Ice on Fire,” which portrays personal growth against the backdrop of a volcanic eruption. She beautifully articulated the duality of existence: “Sometimes we are that exploding volcano, and sometimes we are the peaceful ocean. When I travel, the elements reveal who’s in charge—be it the roaring sea or the thundering rocks on a mountain.”

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