TRAVEL EVERYTHING

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Comment by Komal Mansoor on July 7, 2011 at 3:47pm

Hello friends,

If you are fascinated by exotic european holiday destinations, then you should check out this book, I reviewed today. To read, comment and share, click here:

http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/2011/07/book-review-chique-secrets-...

 

Just want to remind you all, that I am hosting my first international giveaway, so hurry up and enter by clicking here:http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/2011/07/too-awesome-giveaway.html

 

Now, before I take leave, I would like to get your views on this topic, "Why do you blog?". To share your views, just go to this link: http://christinenolfibooks.blogspot.com/2011/07/guest-post-review-g...

 

Hope you will enjoy my book review, giveaway and my featured guest post on Christine's blog. 

Thanks to all.

Komz@The Review Girl

Comment by Shannon Young on May 23, 2011 at 7:38am

New review of THE GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO GETTING LOST by Rachel Friedman at A Kindle in Hong Kong

 

THE GIST:

An American girl can't decide what to do with her life, so she wanders around Ireland, Australia and South America with a free-spirited friend.

Comment by Komal Mansoor on May 17, 2011 at 5:38am

Hello friends,

Thanks for sticking by me and liking my new feature. Here is the 3rd segment of 1st installment of BE MY GUEST: Travel Review:

http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/2011/05/be-my-guest-travel-review-b...

 

Please let me know what you think about this?

Your feedback is much appreciated!

 

Komz@thereviewgirl

http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/

Comment by Shannon Young on May 14, 2011 at 12:26am

I just posted a review of LOST ON PLANET CHINA by J. Maarten Troost at A Kindle in Hong Kong

 

THE GIST:

A man travels around China and discovers it is a lot more complicated and crowded than he anticipated.

Comment by Mindi S. Johnson-Eluwole on May 6, 2011 at 11:14pm

Hello Everyone,

 

Please check out my book cover image for my book Travel: The Well-Known Secret about my life and travels to 117 countries coming soon! I am hoping to post a link for purchase in 7-10 days. Be on the lookout!

http://travelthewellknownsecret.wordpress.com

Hope you will help me get the word out!

Thanks-

Comment by Mindi S. Johnson-Eluwole on April 9, 2011 at 12:00pm

I am a better traveler than you!

I spend a lot of time thinking about other travelers and their travel styles.  I have met people who were riding a bike around the world, or volunteering, or even strictly camping in a tent and think that maybe my way is not as hardcore as I thought.  I want to make the point that you should not apologize for your style or make excuses.  Everyone is unique and therefore should have an individual travel style.

My style is always evolving.  I started as a “newbie” and very green in Western Europe, then transitioned to “hardcore” in Eastern Europe and Africa, and then to “old pro” in Central and South America, and now to my current state of “slack packer” in South East Asia and India.  I went back a little “hardcore” with my last trip from Morocco to Nigeria, and booked the overland camping tour.  Not really that bad since I had done a few other overland tours before, but still not cushy hotel travel!  I then adapted the “holiday mode” for my Honeymoon with Femi around Malaysia.  We still utilized long-haul buses, but once we got to our resort, we joined the land of “package tours” and “All-Inclusive.”  Gotta mix it up a bit, right?

It is very possible to change styles throughout one trip.  I try to change it up with group travel and solo travel, and when I feel brave I might even travel with friends.  This always sounds like the best option, but it is similar to the advice you might receive when you start your freshman year in university:  don’t be roommates with your best friend - sometimes a little space is good!

Other travelers are serious about their “travel style” and sometimes feel the need to tell me how I should travel.  Almost like they are saying “I am a better traveler than you!”  The most common comparison is between Tourist and Traveler.  Originally, I had planned to define the difference between being a traveler or a tourist because it is a real debate on the road, but with all of my recent reading, it seems as if everyone has taken a stab at it, even as far back as Mark Twain.  Although, I think Rolf Potts’ Vagabonding says it best:  “Just keep it real.”  So, whatever real is for you is the best answer.  I hope that we, the travelers of the world (by that I mean those who leave home to go somewhere else) never define it in writing.  Isn’t that the point, to define it for yourself? 

Another popular debate is “to guidebook or not to guidebook?”  I am a fan of Lonely Planet.  I am not much of a planner, so it is comforting to know that I have the “Getting There and Away” section to help me plan my route as I go.  I love using the local maps and the language section to assist me in each country.  I do agree that you have to take it with a grain of salt and realize that just because the restaurant or hostel is listed in the guidebook, doesn’t mean it is the best option, but rather an opinion.  I have heard other travelers calling it “Lonely Liar,” because many times the edition you are carrying is outdated and even in some of the most underdeveloped areas of the world, the tourism trail develops quickly and information changes.

When comparing travel styles with other travelers the concept of “admin days” is discussed.  I classify any day that I spend most of it doing laundry, sending emails and uploading photos to my website as an admin day.  I used to think of them as wasted touring days, but now I have come to realize that this time is needed to regroup, catch up, and connect to the rest of the world!  My only advice here is not to spend a large amount of time in internet cafes and on Facebook.  I was not a Twitterer, Blogger, or a Facebooker until this year.  I had to finally cave, not because of the social pressure, but because I really wanted to sell my upcoming book! (Travel: The Well-Known Secret)

So, I guess I can’t “Just Say NO to Facebook” anymore!  However, I still believe that if you connect with me enough to exchange personal details, then it should be just that, a personal interaction.  I would appreciate the opportunity to receive an individual email not just a post on my wall.  I have heard so many other travelers talking about Facebook and comparing how many friends they have, and I notice them spending half their time updating their status rather than actually getting out there and doing things.  Or worse yet, checking on what everyone else “at home” is doing.  Isn’t that part of the reason we travel? To be out on the road exploring, not worrying that you are missing something at home?

Of course, this is just my opinion!  All I ask is that if you are out there and meet a few unique souls that refuse to be on Facebook, don’t worry about trying to change their mind.  I promise the next person you bump into will be more than happy to join your “I want to share my life in a fish bowl” group, no questions asked!

Back in the beginning when I first started traveling, there were very few internet cafes.  It reminds me of the people who say they backpacked Europe in the 70’s before there were youth hostels.  It is always great to relive the olden days, as well as embrace the changing world, but I think that we are now spending more time in touch with technology than in touch with people and the world.  I traveled for years without an MP3 player or iPod and with only playing cards and puzzle books to entertain me on long journeys.  I only shared my photos with friends and family on Smug Mug, my personal photo website.  I sent group emails to my friends and family every few weeks, only sharing the important details.  I have gotten so many group emails from other travelers that share a few too many details about their daily routine.  In my opinion, group emails should not be the journal version of events.  I don’t care what you had for breakfast unless it was a caterpillar or something culturally freaky.

So, who is really the “best traveler” of them all?  The answer is YES! Get out there and travel, see the world, experience different cultures, try different foods and then come home and teach everyone you come across the importance of exploring this amazing planet!

Comment by Shannon Young on April 8, 2011 at 7:30am

Here's a review of VAGABONDING by legendary travel writer Rolf Potts.

 

THE GIST:

Travel guru Rolf Potts shares advice for long term backpackers everywhere.

 

See the review at A Kindle in Hong Kong

Comment by Mindi S. Johnson-Eluwole on April 6, 2011 at 4:16am

My Top 10 List!

 

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the places and moments that take your breath away!”

– Anon

I put together a TOP 10 List because after the question “How many countries have you been to?” always comes “Which one was your favorite?”  I always like to answer “The next one!”  Here are the places that I hold special in my heart and mind.

In no particular order:

• Nordkapp, Scandinavia - Land of the Midnight Sun
• Transylvania – Romania  (Sibiu, Brasov)
• Dubrovnik, Croatia
• Ngorongoro Crater - Tanzania
• Wadi Rum Desert and Petra - Jordan
• Amsterdam – all 12 times!
• Pacaya Volcano - Guatemala
• Swimming with the sea lions in Galapagos, Ecuador
• Pisaq, Peru - Sacred Valley of the Incas
• Sailing from Panama to Colombia via San Blas Islands

You can see the full post with photos of most of the places on my blog at http://travelthewellknownsecret.wordpress.com

More Travel Photos at www.mindisue.smugmug.com

Comment by Shannon Young on February 16, 2011 at 12:09am

Hello! I'm a new member of this group. I write from Hong Kong and review a lot of travel memoirs in addition to classics, literary fiction, and some non-fiction. My blog, A Kindle in Hong Kong, includes pictures from HK and even some videos from the recent Chinese New Year celebrations.

 

My travel reviews include:

UNDRESS ME IN THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN by Susan Jane Gilman (China)

TALES OF A FEMALE NOMAD by Rita Golden Gelman (the world)

MOUSETRAPPED by Catherine Ryan Howard (Florida)

Comment by Harvee Lau on November 20, 2010 at 9:20am

Tapestry of Love by Rosy Thornton of Cambridge, England; here's a review of her romantic fiction set in France.

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