In 2011, in Las Vegas of all places, I had one of those unexpected, unforgettable moments.At my very first Virtuoso Travel Week—at one of my very first receptions—I met Dr. Biruté Galdikas.
At the time, I knew I was meeting someone important.
But I didn’t fully grasp just how extraordinary she was.
Today, as we reflect on her passing, I find myself returning to that moment with a deeper awareness.
Because here’s what strikes me even more now:
I travelled to Las Vegas… and met a Canadian who had dedicated her life to the rainforests of Borneo.She wasn’t just a scientist. She was one of the legendary “Trimates,” alongside Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey—women who reshaped how we understand our closest living relatives.
For nearly 55 years in Borneo, she didn’t just study orangutans—she lived alongside them.
Because of her work:
We understand orangutan behaviour, diet, and ecology We know about their long birth intervals Conservation and rehabilitation efforts became possible at scaleBut what stayed with me wasn’t just her credentials.
It was her presence.
There was a quiet intensity. A deep conviction.
A sense that she wasn’t separate from the natural world—she was part of it.
That contrast stays with me.
In travel—especially in expedition travel—we often talk about destinations.
But the most meaningful journeys?
They’re not just about where you go.
They’re about who you learn from…
And how those moments change you.
That encounter in Las Vegas—meeting Dr. Biruté Galdikas, a Canadian who had dedicated her life to Borneo—feels very different to me today.
Less like coincidence.
More like a moment I was lucky enough to witness.
And a quiet reminder.
To live with intention.
To stay connected to the world around us.
To make it better, in whatever way we can.
Because in the end, wellness isn’t just about slowing down or escaping.
It’s about alignment.
Living a life that means something Leaving the world better than you found it Being remembered not just for what you did—but for what you gave
Return on life, always.