Voyages & Words

Pre-Holiday Research Begins

2010-08-27T08:27:00.001+01:00

Holiday planning is perhaps as much of an excitement to me as the actual trip. First, there is the research to book something. That is usually dependent on the budget - then it's all booked, and there is the anticipation and RESEARCH. I find it best to go prepared.

Now that I have no particular plans for the rest of the year, time to really look forward to our hoilday to Tenerife in December has arrived. It will be THE TRIP of this year. Our only holiday. So boy, I am excited. I have been doing research on and off since I booked it in March/April. But now, it's time for serious work.

Excursions, things to do around there, information about the area, the hotel, packing list - oh it's absolutely lots to do. And I am totally looking forward to it. :-)

First Time in Tenerife

2010-04-24T14:12:00.003+01:00

Just booked a holiday to Tenerife, 2 weeks in Puerto de la Cruz in December. I know it's quite a wait, but I am excited nonetheless. :-))

Due to finances, wasn't sure if we would be going away at all this year, but then thought might be able to maange later in the year. Tenerife initially became my choice because it's more affordable than my usual kinds of holiday - intensive touring. But the more I researched, the more exciting it sounded.

I have chosen to go to the north rather than the south because North definitely retain more Canarian feel than extremely tourist orientated south. We will have to sacrifice a few degrees because Mount Teide does make the north slightly less warmer and more windier, but it will still be better than UK weather in December. :-))

The only thing I definitely want to do in the South is "Yellow Submarine" so now I just need to figure out how to get there.

Have you been to Tenerife? Any tips?

Hunger for Travel

2010-03-14T22:51:00.007Z

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” - Miriam Beard

Many people I know travel to have a break from work and from the everyday humdrum of life’s demands. Relaxing by the pool or hanging on the beach often seems to be the priority. For me, travel is one of life’s true purposes. I travel not merely to see a new place and experience a new culture, but also to search for self. It is a journey to seek knowledge – knowledge of a nation, knowledge of humanity, but above all – knowledge of life.

It is immensely elating feeling to stand on the streets of Pompeii and imagine toga clad people who would have lived there once upon a time, or to envision the Statue of Liberty being transformed across the ocean from France to America. Knowing something exists is nearly not as good as seeing that it does.

It is always difficult for me to decide where to travel because I want to go everywhere at once. Unfortunately, not being a millionaire or a British asylum seeker, I have limited time and resources and therefore difficult choices must be made. I pick and choose, and hope that I live long enough to see the rest of the world – or that the nuclear war, glacier floods, tsunamis and earthquakes don’t destroy the world just yet.

Security Gone Bonkers?

2010-01-04T19:22:00.002Z

We went over to USA just couple of days after Christmas, while the attempted terrorist attack was still fresh in everyone's mind. Higher security was expected. Fair enough.

At Heathrow, the only difference passengers felt was that everyone was being checked and handbags opened before sitting down by the gate. No big deal.

But the weird stuff was once we got onto the flight to Chicago. People weren't allowed to get up from their seats in the last hour of the flight, and even more strangely, you couldn't look at the flight path. Now really, if you were a terrorist, intent on blowing up a plane, especially an American plane, surely you could manage without knowing the exact location? Or you might have done your research and have a fair idea of where you might be after a certain period of time.

And what's even more crazy is that on the flight back from Chicago to UK, you can see the flight path. Now I am wondering, whether it's because those security measures have been lifted in a mere week, or whether American Airline isn't too fussed about a flight going out of America?

Personally, I have no problem with tight security measures. It's not exactly difficult to be sensible and know what you can take and what you can't. And if you haven't got awkward stuff in your bags, you don't get held up. At least I don't. Okay occassionally there is beeping through security gate, but hey, little frisking didn't hurt anyone. It's not the security measures I mind, but just wondering whether airlines could just stop bringing in things just to show they are doing something, as oppose to actually doing something productive.

Anyone else had flight paths blocked?

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year

2009-12-23T21:43:00.000Z

All my wonderful blog readers,

Wish you a very Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Let it Snow!

2009-12-21T14:46:00.003Z

I am having a beautiful Monday. That is extremely rare because Mondays are usually annoying, having to come to work after weekends, getting up early in cold and usually grey weather. But today is special because I woke up to a snowy landscape.

Just before I went to bed yesterday, the snow was already settled and thick, fat snowflakes were still falling, so this morning, I walked out in the bright, white snow - making my own trail at least for a little while on the residential streets where the snow was still undisturbed.

Bristol isn't exactly known for getting snow in the winter, but last year we had some snow that settled for about 3 days, and this year is looking promising. So hurray for that :-)

Of course England is not equipped to handle snow so traffic becomes a nightmare, buses stop running, trains don't work ---but what the hell....it's gorgeous.

10 Days to Go

2009-12-16T11:22:00.000Z

Ten more days and then I will be in Arkansas. Granted, at first, I wasn’t too excited about it, because in USA, I prefer East Coast. Having lived in America, it’s also not on the top of my places to visit list. But since my parents have moved to Arkansas, I had to go.

However, a new place is a new place, and as the time for departure gets closer, I find myself getting excited about it anyway. I have looked up things I can do in the area. With family visit, I don’t know how much of sightseeing I will actually accomplish, but it’s always good to have a list handy, just in case there is an opportunity.

But most importantly, at least I should be able to snow during Christmas period, since here in Bristol that’s a rarity.

So forget about Christmas Day…it’s the 27th that I am looking forward to.

Off preparing for NaNo

2009-10-18T12:47:00.000+01:00

Sorry, haven't blogged regularly lately. But currently, I am focusing on outlining my book for NaNo challenge that begins in November. For those of you who may not know, it's National November Novel Writing Month. Thousands of crazy people, like me, sign up to write 50000 words from November 1 to November 30.

The rules are simple
You have to start a new project. You can't work on a half completed book, because the idea is to let your creativity flow, and not get bogged down by editing.

You can outline, but not writing anything before November. And that's it.

I am hoping to complete 80000 which would be a full length of a novel, so let's see how it goes.
So blogging might be bit slow until end of November.

One of my favourite places in Bristol

2009-10-03T21:04:00.000+01:00

(c)photo by D.G.

This is the beautiful central library. In Bristol almost every area has a local library, and even though these do provide good selection of books to borrow, they are not very good for sitting around. They are quite small and feel like one open room. I prefer libraries to be big, with lots of little rows to roam through, and tons of books all around me. That's what the central library is good for. And it's in one of the old buildings, so the architecture is gorgeous.

Oh God the Horse Cop is Coming...

2009-09-30T22:45:00.001+01:00

A cop on the horse in Bristol city centre. Is there a purpose to it? If someone does commit a crime, what are they going to do? A horse chase in middle of busy traffic? I see hollywood cameras rolling! Still, adds a bit of character I suppose to the city look.

A New Perspective for Familiar Places

2009-09-28T15:25:00.000+01:00

Do you know people who have been to far flung countries in the world, but hardly visited different parts of their own cities? People who could tell you exotic details and histories of other culture, but might not know if anything significant happened where they live?
I am one of those people. It’s only since the last few years that I’ve realised it.

When you live somewhere, you think you’ve got plenty of time to go around and see things. There is no urgency to do something right now, because there is always tomorrow. It’s home. You will be there forever. No need to hurry. While for a lot of people that is true, in my case it’s not. Home is not a fixed place, or even a fixed country. So far I have lived in 3 countries, and no doubt there will be more in the future. So getting complacent about it means that when I do move away, I probably wouldn’t know much about where I live now.

From a superficial point of view, I am not really a big fan of Bristol. It’s not big enough or cityish enough to suit my definition of a city (think London, NYC, Berlin), public transportation is dreadful to say the least, and historical background doesn’t include the type and events of history that I am interested in. So I haven’t bothered exploring much.

But lately it has occurred to me that there maybe plenty I would like if only I see it as a traveller, and not as a resident. There maybe unexplored gems in the city somewhere, or fascinating stories that I have missed out on, by going only to my regular haunts and routes and nowhere else.

So a new goal then for the next year is to Explore Bristol. I don’t intend to get obsessive about it, but every once in a while, I will make the effort to go out and visit new places that I haven’t been to, and see how that effects my perspective of Bristol.

Autumn Has Arrived in Bristol

2009-09-26T22:23:00.002+01:00

Autumn has arrived at least in some parts of Bristol. I am no gardener, but it must be some parts only because a lot of the streets I pass by, shows no sign of these wonderful colours. I went to the South-East last week, and strangely enough, the trees were much more colourful over there. But this gorgeous autumn vision picture was taken just outside my regular bus-stop, coming back from work.

Goat Herders

2009-09-24T20:31:00.000+01:00

Children working as Goat-Herders in a village outside Ahmedabad, India

Writing Travel Articles

2009-09-22T13:25:00.000+01:00

I have been thinking of writing travel articles for a while. The thought occurred to me several years ago, then it got pushed aside somewhere, but since February this year, the thought has been in my mind more or less consistently. If I am going to try my hand at freelance writing, it makes sense to write something that I am passionate about, and one of them is travel. But it’s not been so easy.

It’s not that I am not capable of writing articles, because over time, I have written a lot of blog posts, emails etc. explaining things, how-to type things, and generally a detailed consolidation of material that would result in a good article. And yet, I can’t say I have got many completed articles. Why is that?

One possibility I consider is because writing an article is more formal than writing a blog post or an email. Though there are all kinds of formats in an article, including first person narratives, the aim still is to reach a target auidence and deliver what they would like to read. For attempting to publish an article, there are guidelines, and one has to meet them. Whereas writing a blog post or emails comes from within one’s self. It’s more or less like talking. I start typing and the words flow, because all I have to do is be myself, write in my own way, and voíla it’s done. So it is perhaps fear or lack of confidence? After all, a good writer should be using her voice, her personality in the article she writes. Despite uniform guidelines for travel magazines or websites, each writer’s material is different. So a part of me feels as if I wouldn’t be able to convey my voice in an article.

A logical part of me is aware that it’s not true. It knows that I am capable of producing an article, in my own style. But an irrational part of me suppresses that confidence. But I have got a message for that irrational part. Sooner or later (sooner, I hope) I am going to break through its barriers to have scraps of writings and thoughts turned into proper articles. And guess what will happen once I have done that? There will be no point for that irrational part to argue, because I’ll have proof that I can do it. Nearly there, now just need to cross the finish line.

How to Keep a Travel Journal?

2009-09-20T18:58:00.000+01:00

Whether you are a travel writer, or just a traveller who likes to record memories in a way more in-depth than photographs, travel journals are invaluable.

"But I don't keep journals" you complain. Not to worry, anyone can keep a journal. A travel journal is for you. It's not supposed to be a piece of great art or a published book. It's personal, and so what you put in it and what it looks like, is also about what you like.

Selecting a Journal
While you can select any journal you like, durable and able to lie flat are the two key requirements.

You'll be using it in your travels, which means you might end up writing at the airport, in the train, in a cafe, outside on a bench - just about anywhere, so you need a journal that will handle the travelling well. A delicate little thing will fall apart in two days. For the same reasons, you need a journal that lie flat, so you can use it anywhere, even on your lap.

Try to choose one with acid-free pages, as they last longer. Also, if you are anything like me - a stationary freak - then you might have favourite pens you like to use. In my case, it's my fountain pens, which don't work well on really smooth pages, so I have to take that into consideration as well.

But really, it's no big deal. You can buy a simple notebook, or you can buy an expensive leather journal. It's up to you, and your budget. I have used a variety of things, but my current favourite is moleskine.

Preparating before your trip
Decide what you want to put in the journal, and make sure to pack supplies accordingly. If you just like orderly, uniform journal then all you may need is a black pen. But you might enjoy writing in coloured pens, or drawing things. Take some time to think about what you'll need. You don't need to take tons of supplies, but a little preparation will not leave you frustrated when you are inspired on your trip.

Finally...what to put in the journal?
Remember the five senses.
Most of the time, our main focus goes on the visual sense. We write what we see. But you don't just see things. You feel the searing heat on your skin. You smell the stench of sewers or aroma of spices. You taste things. You hear things. If you use all your senses when you write in your journal, those recorded memories will be all the more richer.

Make the best use of your time, but don't let the journal take over your trip. I've often been on trips where there is a lot to see, a lot to learn, and therefore a lot to write. But if I were to start writing then and there, I would most likely miss exciting parts of the trip. So I generally carry a post-it pad with me, and make notes along the way. Just few phrases, facts and lists. They are usually enough to jog my memory when I want to elaborate on them later on.

Collect mementos along the way: ticket stubs, napkin from a restaurant you love or hate, hotel cards. Pasting those things in your journal, alongside the written text, would add another layer.

If you enjoy drawings - and you don't have to be an expert - then try to make your sketches or even doodles. Otherwise, try writing your text in different layouts. Sometimes horizontal, sometimes in a circle. All this may sound rather silly, but your aim is to make your travel journal interesting enough that you would want to read it in the future.

In conclusion
If you are travel writer, a journal is a must. It is a place to collect your impressions and notes, as well as material you gather along the way, so that you can expand them into articles. If you are travelling just for pleasure, then it's up to you to decide it's importance, but in my experience, travel journals make most precious souveniers than anything you can buy.

Interview with a Travel Editor / Writer

2009-09-17T21:33:00.000+01:00

Eva Holland is Travel Editor for Matador and World Hum. Here is her interview which could be inspirational for travel writers.

20 Markets for Travel Writers

2009-09-17T16:32:00.001+01:00

No one has ever claimed that becoming a published writer is easy, but if you persist and if you are good enough, there are plenty of places that would open their doors to you. Here is a list of 20 travel markets to get you started:

Bristol Cathedral on an Overcast Morning

2009-09-14T22:30:00.002+01:00

Overcast day in Bristol. Or I should say, normal day in Bristol. This year, summer totally skipped us by. Maybe we are shrouded under invisibility cloak??

You think you have traffice problems?

2009-09-13T11:49:00.001+01:00

Organised Chaos in Ahmedabad, India

Does Gender Matter when Travelling?

2009-09-12T14:47:00.000+01:00

Yesterday, I read in the newspaper about Keiichi Iwasaki - a guy who has been travelling around the world on his bicycle. Whenever I read about a story like it, it's amazing and inspiring, and a part of me feels that I would love to do that. But I know I would never do something like that, because there is another, cautious voice in my head. A voice that prefers secure, safe travel.

I realised, while thinking about this that all the stories that I have read about adventerous travellers, setting out alone with little or no money and vague plans, are men. That is not to say that no women ever do it, just that all the ones I seem to read about it in paper or hear on the news, concern men. Logically, it makes sense.

I love equality of gender as much as the next person, but I do feel that it is easier to just strike out on such adventures if you are a man. While there are always dangers of being robbed or attacked, one of the feared dangers for women is that of uninvited male attention. I think few men face that particular danger. That one aspect makes a lot of difference, regards to where you can stay, with whom you can associate.

It is not to undermine good nature of humanity, because I know there are plenty of very kind, helpful people out in the world. But I suppose it's a question of how much of a risk it seems. In my opinion, the risk is slightly higher for women.

What do you think?

Wroxton Abbey

2009-09-11T20:26:00.001+01:00

Wroxton Abbey, Wroxton Village, Oxfordshire, England
AKA: The place closest to my heart

This is where I lived for a semeseter. A beautiful manor near Banbury, now owned by my American University, as a study abroad campus for American students. This was an experience of a life time. I always fancied living in a castle anyway, surrounded by beautiful grounds. Wroxton grounds have the best of both worlds, with well-maintained landscaped lawn at the front, and a little taste of country with woods and ponds at the back.

Mere two miles away from the city bustle of Banbury, within Wroxton it was tranquility itself, except for the students of course. Then once when electricity got cut off at night, I sat in the great hall, next to the knight in armour, and insisted there was a ghost which resulted in couple of scared girls being spooked totally. ;)

The Emergence of Wanderer

2009-09-11T19:24:00.002+01:00

As a child, I wasn't hungry for travel. In 1980s Ahmedabad (India), most people I knew took few vacations, just as we did. Now and again in school holidays, or trips to religious destinations. More often, there were day trips, either from school or with family. I enjoyed those trips immensely, but they were just fun outing. I didn't appreciate their importance then. Growing up I used to say, "Oh I would love to travel the world one day" and that was just so I could say "I have been there and done that."

But then I went on a study abroad program for one semester, and everything changed. It was then, being away on my own for the first time, going through a personal soul-searching journey as well as studying that I understood what travelling really meant to me. It wasn't just about seeing the sights, or bragging about how much of the world I'd seen. Travelling was a way to experience life. It was to go somewhere I had never been before, and see how well I coped with it. It was to find myself in strange surrounding, and through the journey, know myself better.

Over the years, my belief that travelling is not only important in my life but essential has steadily grown. Each place I have lived in or visited, has contributed a little bit to my growth as a person.

I have actually lived in 3 countries (India, USA and UK), and it has been quite an experience. Now, I feel myself to be either a global citizen who belongs everywhere, or a wanderer who doesn't belong in any nation. Most of the time it's half-way between the two. And I wouldn't have it any other way. :)

Look out for some photo posts next.

Voyages & Words

2009-09-10T23:21:00.003+01:00

This blog is to combine my love of travel and writing. We live in an age where the world is truly open to all of us. It may not be easy, it may not be regularly affordable, and it may not be your cup of tea. But for anyone who truly wants to experience more of the world, it is possible. At the very least, you can be an armchair traveller. So I hope, you will buckle up and join me on this journey.

I love travelling. I wish I could do more of it, and I hope to eventually get my life to a stage where I can. But for now, I travel as much as I can. Even if it is one new destination per year, it's something more than I had seen before. And every place I go to, I try to make the best of it.

For last several trips, I have regularly kept travel journals, and with each trip my aim is to improve my journal keeping skills. Now, being dedicated to my writing, I wish to work on travel writing too. It is something I have aspired to try, and so now is as good a time as any.

I hope this blog will offer something to both travellers and writers.