The new magazine and online travel resource, AFAR, contains more of what I want to see in travel media. AFAR focuses on "experiential" travel and challenges its readers to go beyond pre-packaged consumerist jaunts in favor of genuine, authentic, and even unexpected trips. AFAR's mission:
"Our mission is to inspire and guide those who travel the world seeking to connect with its people, experience their culture, and understand their perspectives."
I especially like how AFAR was born:
"Greg Sullivan is a globe-trotting serial entrepreneur. Joe Diaz is a former teacher who grew up in a bi-cultural family, with one foot in Spain and the other in California. These seasoned travelers hatched the idea for AFAR Media over a beer on a beach in Goa, India."
My kind of guys. Support this venture by visiting their website and signing up for a FREE issue of the magazine.
http://www.afar.com/
8.11.2009
AFAR Magazine
8.05.2009
Be Careful!
Yesterday's news about the release of two American journalists from North Korea got me thinking about safe travel. Another recent news item, the arrest of three American backpackers who strayed over the Iran border from the Kurdistan region of Iraq, points to the dangers of being too confident when visiting an unfamiliar land.
The U.S. Department of State is great resource for making travel plans. Click the link below for tips on everything from packing to preparing to visit a high risk area of the world.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html
8.04.2009
Laura Ling and Euna Lee Pardoned
At Bill Clinton's request, North Korea's Kim Jong II has issued an official pardon of two American journalists. Way to go Bill!
Read the breaking news story here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090804/ap_on_re_as/as_nkorea_journalists_held
8.03.2009
FIVES. Entry Number One: Five Things To Learn To Say In a Foreign Language
When traveling it is essential to make an effort to communicate in the native language of the place you are visiting. From the moment you decide on your destination, you should begin learning and practicing the basic greetings and expressions of the locale you'll be visiting. Under no circumstances should you assume that the locals will understand your language. I've seen many Americans make this mistake and it can be both embarassing and frustrating for all parties involved.
Which brings me to the first installment of FIVES. If you are going to learn FIVE words or expressions in the language of the place you will be visiting, I suggest starting with the following:
1. "Hello" - You'll say this to almost everyone you come in contact with and it's a great way to share a few head nods and passing smiles with the people you encounter daily.
2. "Please" - All cultures value good manners. Even if you are ordering food from a menu that you can't read, the least you can do is point to the selection and say, "Please."
3. "Thank you." - Again, basic manners. If someone opens a door for you, serves you a drink, or gives you ride to your next destination, always thank them graciously.
4. "I'm sorry" - Being unfamiliar with your surroundings or the local customs, you are bound to make some mistakes. Most often though, mistakes will be overlooked if you can simply apologize for your misstep.
5. "I don't speak much (insert language here)" - This explanation should be delivered with humility after you have said all that you can possibly say in a particular foreign language. The key is to show through your tone that you really wish you could speak more of the language but unfortunately cannot.
These five expressions are simply a starting point but you will likely use these more frequently than most other words and phrases.
Recommended Reading
http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Out-Leaving-America-Self-reliance/dp/0976082276
I recently settled in to a rainy weekend with this book and quickly found my head spinning with new ideas about the possibilities of extended jaunts, living "in the grey," and even total relocation.
A good bit of the content seems motivated by political and economic discontent with the United States but a discerning reader can filter out the opinions and salvage the essentials. The most valuable resources in this book are the detailed breakdowns of countries all over the world. Each country's climate, government, social life, cost of living, and cultural offerings are prepared in an easy to read format that, when combined with first hand accounts of people who have actually made the trip, provide a good starting point for choosing a new location to travel to.
