Bad experiences have a different resonance when you travel

“Even bad experiences when you travel seem almost mythical — they are bad experiences, but also stories that you will tell around a table sometime, exotic in their badness.” –Susan Orlean, “A Lonely Heart in Bhutan,” Best American Travel Writing 2007

Posted by | Comments (1)  | November 17, 2008
Category: General

TrekEarth: a global photography community

Every person has their own unique perspective on the scene in front of them and different ways of showing it through the lens of a camera. Photographers of the world are roaming and constantly documenting infinite scenes frozen in time. So what happens to all these photographs? I recently discovered TrekEarth through a fellow traveler/photographer, a website that whose mission is dedicated to fostering a global community interested in photography from around the world.

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Posted by | Comments (1)  | November 14, 2008
Category: General

Living the Indiana Jones fantasy

TravelBlogs.com had an interview with Wade, a perpetual traveler.  He discusses strategies for how to travel as long as you want without going broke.

The most intriguing aspect for me was when he explained how to become an archaeologist.  Until now, I’d only heard of excavations where you have to pay to volunteer. Getting paid to do this stuff was a big revelation for me.  He gives more details about the nitty-gritty of … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (2)  | November 14, 2008
Category: General

Can couchsurfing go corporate?

With the recent economic downturn, it’s no surprise that many companies are lowering their expenses. One of the ways they do this is by encouraging their employees to stay with friends and family during business trips. This allows companies to cut back on the expenses that go with traveling employees, such as hotel accommodation, airport transfers, and other related expenses. Here’s a quote from an article on this new trend:

“Another one of the things … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (1)  | November 13, 2008
Category: General

Book Review: Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise?

Island Press’ new edition of Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise? by Martha Honey is an interesting read for anyone interested in the burgeoning ecotourism industry. This book attempts to answer the question of whether or not ecotourism fulfills its mission of reducing a traveler’s impact to the places he or she visits, in terms of not only ecological impact, but also in terms of … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (4)  | November 13, 2008
Category: Travel Writing

A travel site for book lovers

All travelers seem to be, at least to some degree, readers. The downtime and travel time of the average vagabonding journey lends itself to reading, and, whether you consider yourself a reader or not, you may well be one be the time your return home.

For some of us it works the opposite way — reading is a gateway to travel. It wasn’t the only reason … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (3)  | November 12, 2008
Category: General

Andy Howard on remote working

Andy Howard has a good work system going. What’s consistent is his work as a website designer, strategist, and consultant. What’s not is where he sets up his work station. So far, in his seven months on the road, the Aussie has worked while traveling through Asia, the US, Central America, and he’s now making his way through Europe. He kindly answered a few questions from his current outpost, in London.

What was the … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (6)  | November 12, 2008
Category: General, Notes from the collective travel mind

Visas: planning ahead can make your trip smoother

Of all the things that go into planning a long trip, the least glamorous — and yet potentially most important — is the visa. It might be tempting to just obtain a visa for your first destination and then get the rest in local embassies.

That is a viable option in some cases, but in others the local embassies can be a bigger headache than … Read more »

Posted by | Comments Off on Visas: planning ahead can make your trip smoother  | November 11, 2008
Category: General

Long term travel: Getting started

I like to find websites written and maintained by people who have been on the road for an extended period of time. This is because, before you take the first step, you consistently need all the encouragement and inspiration you can get.

My latest find is the Indie Travel Guide and Podcast run by Kiwi couple — Craig and Linda Martin — who have been on the road for the last 3 years, … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (3)  | November 11, 2008
Category: General

Safer sex: a broad

Speaking as a woman, I’ve certainly had my fair share of offers while traveling; from a tentative kiss on the rooftop of a hostel to a proposal of marriage by a frightfully earnest Moroccan waiter.  Some of them were from people I quite liked, and I’ve fallen in love on the road as well (note previous post on “saying goodbye”)…so how do you make sure that any relationships you start on the road remain safe, … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (4)  | November 10, 2008
Category: Notes from the collective travel mind