Sojourner's Sojourns
Natural Beauty + Sojourns + Wellness
Hey Everyone, I'm trying to plan my next family getaway and I need some ideas. For the first time we'll be traveling with an infant so I'd like to keep the flight from New York relatively short. We want to leave either late Fall or early Winter, other than that I'm open. If you have any suggestions go ahead and post, I'd appreciate your help.
Best,
Sojourner
I have done nothing in my life as miraculous as giving birth to my son. A month old today, my life with Ohm has been an intense and primal love affair. On his own schedule from day one, Ohm arrived three weeks late, thus disrupting the bonding time my husband and I had planned at home. We literally spent the majority of the month of August indoors staring at each other ( I found a mole on his face I didn't know existed), having cancelled everything in anticipation of our little man. So when my husband, a musician with a touring swing band reluctantly packed up and shipped out for his Japanese tour one week after the birth of our son, I too found myself preparing to travel.
Staying in Brooklyn, where I had no family to assist me for the two weeks that Mark would be away was not an appealing option. My baby was great, but not that great. I'd read stories of stressed out new moms, left alone and I wasn't signing up for that. Aware of my limits, I packed my car, grabbed my alternatively sleepy and cranky newborn and headed upstate to my childhood home in Rochester, New York. Hi dad, I'm baaaaccckkk....
What normally would have been an extremely simple trip became an involved exercise in patience and strategy.
Part 1: The Drive
Getting there was a challenge. Not being able to leave Mr. Cranky Pants alone in the backseat of the car while I drove, I needed help. I called friends and relatives to see who would be available to drive with me from Brooklyn to Rochester. Nobody had an entire day free, but I was able to convince my friend Freddy and my sister N'Djamena to help me in shifts. As I sat in the back seat, keeping the peace like a UN negotiator, Freddy took the wheel and drove Ohm and I from Brooklyn to Albany, where my sister lives. Next shift, we picked up my sister who resumed driving duties, dropped Freddy at the train station and continued upstate. N'Djamena and Freddy's help proved to be life saving. There is nothing worse than driving with a screaming infant in the car, an infant you can't even see since the baby seat has to face the rear window. With mommy in the backseat, I was able to comfort and calm with relative ease. Ohm, did well on the drive and took turns fussing, sleeping and eating, but for the most part, he was a very good little boy.
Part 2: Creating a baby friendly environment
Any new parent will tell you that organization is key. If I was going to survive with my sanity for the next two weeks, I had to set up my baby center immediately and make sure that everything was in place to ensure both of our comfort. Whenever I go to Rochester, I stay in my father's study which comes complete with a twin day-bed and for the purpose of my visit a brand new travel friendly Graco Playyard (I would not have survived without this gift as there was no way for me to pack my crib from Brooklyn).
After handing Ohm over to bond with his grandpa, I dashed upstairs to put form and structure to our world for the next two weeks. I needed a changing station, a bathing station, a place to lay his clothes out, a laundry station, a bottle station and a place to put his bouncer. Traveling with a baby, means traveling with things, lots and lots of things. I got over myself very quickly and was resigned to wear the same three outfits as to not take up too much space.
You spend weeks (possibly months) planning your baby's room and setting your house up for your new arrival. Setting up a new space is no easy feat. Without my familiar nooks and furniture, I was forced to hijack bookcases, end-table tops, and any available space that I could find. The lamp table became the bottle station, the windowsill became the storage portion of my changing station, the surface of a bookcase was resurrected as a place to store and organize baby clothes. Within 45 minutes, I was in action.
Part 3: Your newborn and contact with people
Babies do not receive their immunizations until their second month of life. This means, that for the first two months of their lives as a parent you are bound to be a nervous, neurotic mess. So fragile and vulnerable to disease and colds, it's tempting to become a hermit until this time passes, but providing your child is healthy and your pediatrician gives the okay, it is fine to venture about in controlled environments (absolutely no crowds!).
Going out and about with your baby is all about common sense. Dress your newborn in layers (even in the summer), it is amazing how many temperatures you go through from outside, to the car, to inside an air-conditioned store or restaurant. Babies lose heat quickly as their circulatory system is immature (cover hands, feet and head regions). My Baby Bjorn carrier is a life saver. Not only is Ohm snuggled next to me, listening to my heartbeat, and benefiting from my body heat, but my hands are free, I am able to function and move and eat and enjoy my environment without worrying about supporting his head and rocking and bouncing and all of the fun details and restrictions associated with holding an infant. When heading into a somewhat crowded area (there are never truly crowds in Rochester), I covered Ohm in the Baby Bjorn with a receiving blanket (once a woman mistook my baby bjorn and blanket situation for a heart monitor machine, she pulled me aside and told me to be strong, to hang in there, that she would be praying for me- I had to break the news to her softly, that I was carrying my newborn, not a heart monitor). Whatever you do, don't let strangers touch your baby (they will try) and make sure that your visiting friends and relatives wash their hands before touching and holding your baby. The last thing you need is a sick infant.
Part 4: Locate a pediatrician who accepts your insurance ahead of time
To be safe, I wrote down the names and addresses of three pediatricians in the area, just in case. And it's a good thing.
During bath time one morning, I noticed what looked like bruising at the base of my son's spine. I took note, told myself not to panic, handled him very gently and checked back the next day. The bruising was still there. I then, looked up bruising in newborns on the internet and was presented with horror stories about leukemia and blood diseases. I called the doctor, scheduled an appointment and was informed that my son had developed his birthmark. I was so relieved and felt completely foolish, but was glad that I had the option of going to a doctor. While there, she even gave him a full physical and took the time to answer questions. The piece of mind was priceless.
Part 5: Pack extra clothes in that diaper bag
While out in public one afternoon, Ohm became hungry. I covered my chest with an extra receiving blanket and proceeded to nurse. Everything was going well until I burped him and after emitting an enormous belch, he proceeded to spit up. Not only did he spit up about a half cup of milk, he spit up blood, right down the front of his baby blue jumper. My panic turned to horror. I wiped at his mouth with the receiving blanket looking for the source of the blood, everything seemed fine. He didn't appear to be in any pain or to have any cuts. I wiped his bloodstained clothes as dry as I could and tried to understand what had occurred. It wasn't until I looked down at my chest did I realize the problem. I was the bleeder. Nursing in the early days/weeks, is no fun. My nipples were dry, they were cracked and sure enough, my nipple had a deep bleeding crack. I was bleeding through my bra and shirt. The scene looked gruesome and I was completely embarrassed. Luckily, nobody seemed to notice. We removed ourselves as quietly as possible from public view, went home and changed. Note to self, pack an extra outfit for baby and have an extra bra and t-shirt in stock for mommy, just in case...
Overall, our Rochester adventure was a success. Before I knew it, Mark, back from Japan, had joined us for our final days upstate. Our two weeks in Rochester flew by. I was fortunate that Rochester is such a baby and child friendly city. People appreciate babies. Unlike in certain restaurants in Manhattan, where you are scowled at the moment your baby coos, people greeted Ohm with smiles, even when he was having a meltdown. We thoroughly enjoyed the fresh air break and the comfort of family and friends.
Most people do not travel with a one week-old, however, sometimes you have no choice. Know that it can be done, and it can be fun as long as you have a little help from family and friends and as long as you are prepared for the unexpected.
Phuket, unlike Kao Lak, is not a laid-back, beautiful sanctuary. Some parts are laid-back, some parts are beautiful, but Phuket is gritty, Phuket is loud, Phuket is polluted, Phuket doesn't sleep, and Phuket is home to one of the most famous sex districts in S.E. Asia (hello lady boys of Patong).
Despite these set-backs, we managed to have a fabulous honeymoon. We rose every morning with the sun, took full advantage of the phenomenal breakfast spread at La Meridian (complete with an assortment of fresh tropical juices), learned to swim in the pool around eight am, before the other tourist began to crowd in, took daily dips in the salty Andaman Sea and rented a motor bike so that we could have the freedom to set off on our own adventures.
Taking on Phuket:
Get a Thai Massage
In my opinion, there are few things as pleasurable as a Thai massage. Full bodied, reaching your deep tissues, relaxing and interactive, Thai massage is my favorite form of massage. There were several places for Mark and I to get one. Almost every beauty shop we passed offered massage. My favorite location though was under a canopy on La Meridian's private beach where I could hear the ocean lapping against the sand and the distant call of nature. Massages are very inexpensive, around tend dollars for an hour.
Go in search of the giant white Buddha
While in the bike rental shop, we were advised by two local women that we must take the trek into the mountains to see the giant white Buddha. That was all they had to say for me to be intrigued. Mark was on board, and with little more than make a left at the church, a right when you hit the water and follow the signs, we were on our bike, heading in the direction of the giant white Buddha, to see what we could see. The ride was very scenic, especially once we headed up the side of this mountain through a small isolated town. We stopped several times to take pictures of the sun making progress towards setting over the ocean. Then, sure enough, in the distance at the top of a hill sat what literally appeared to be a giant white Buddha statue. We made it to the top just as the sun was setting. After posing for a few pictures, we spent some time in the monastery and Mark attempted to ring a huge Tibetan bowl.
Take an Elephant Trek
I am a huge fan of pachyderms. I think they are some of the most graceful , grounded and beautiful creatures to grace the planet. Thailand is one of the natural habitats of the Asian elephant. Elephants are everywhere, whether embroidered onto clothes and tapestries, or represented in statues and paintings. Elephant trek safaris are everywhere as well.
There was a trek site, not far from the white Buddha statue relatively near our hotel. Mark and I found ourselves riding our bike (correction I sat on the back with my arms in a death grip around him, as he sped up a narrow mountain path) to the elephant camp. At first, my heart melted. Two baby elephants were out front doing tricks. In exchange for a trick they would get a banana. Visitors could pay a few baht to feed the elephants as well. I fell for that hook line and sinker and before I knew it, had emptied my purse of all its change in exchange for a bunch of bananas. My hand was covered in elephant mucus as their little slimy trunks reached towards my hands. They were so cute. I was babbling and cooing with little gray, mini-cooper sized elephants. Their beautiful black eyes surrounded by thick long lashes played with me. It wasn't until I was called away to board our trekking elephant that I noticed the chains. These beautiful little babies, were chained by the foot to a stake in the ground. They could barely move. They stood, placidly rocking back and forth, smiling and entertaining in perfect unnatural misery. This put quite the damper on my mood.
We boarded our elephant for the trek, a large female with a steady slow gait. Our driver (if you can call him that), an elderly gentleman with no teeth and a willing smile called out orders to the elephant as he perched on her head behind her ears. It took a while to get used to being jostled about in the basket on the elephants back, but once I did, I was able to enjoy the scenery, and the fact that I was riding on the back of one of natures most powerful and majestic creatures. Side to side we rocked, slowly approaching a bend around our steep mountain path. For some reason, at this particular juncture, our dear elephant had other plans. Instead of following the trail, I sat in horror as the elephant began to approach the edge of the mountain (I'm talking steep drop off and instant death). The man driving the elephant began to panick and set off screaming at the creature in Thai. The elephant continued to lead us towards certain death. The man pulled out a long iron hooked instrument and began beating the elephant behind the ears. The elephant stopped for a moment, before continuing on her path, the one that lead towards certain death. I wasn't breathing. I squeezed Mark's arm and searched for a way out with my bugged eyes. There was none. Our way out was a steep drop off the side of the mountain. Mark was silent, but his petrified look said everything. Meanwhile, the driver, realizing the situation could turn ugly really quickly jumped off of the elephant's head (perhaps to save his own life) and ran in front of the animal, putting his body between us and the edge of the mountain. With his little iron weapon, he began beating at the elephant until she slowly stepped backwards. I was so fearful for my life and all the while, I was so sad for this poor elephant.
We finished the rest of our trek in somber silence. Despite the tropical beauty around us, there was little to take pleasure in besides the fact that we had our lives. Elephant treks are really cruel. The treks aren't cruel, but the treatment of the elephants for the most part is deplorable. Between the chains on their legs and the beatings with the iron hook, I could see why our elephant considered jumping. Free the elephants I say!
Eat! Eat! Eat!
There is so much great food to take advantage of in Phuket. In Phuket town and in the city you will not only find Thai food but a vast assortment of ethnic cuisine such as Italian and French. Mark and I actually had a really tasty Italian dinner, but who comes to Thailand for Italian food.
Eaters to the core, we left the Phuket city center and sought out our dinners elsewhere. Since we had our bike, we would ride out into the Thai neighborhoods where few tourists could be found and helped ourselves to the locally owned food establishments. We ate so well. The vegetables were fresh and perfectly seasoned. The calamari, muaw, tasty and crunchy greatness. Mark was a big fan of the red snapper meals, while I typically went for the veggie curries (red, massaman, green, they were all delicious). The curry in Thailand is thin like soup and was served with coconut sticky rice.
I couldn't partake in the beer drinking festivities, but Mark had a ball with the local brews.
My drink du jour everyday was coconut in the raw.
Have a suit tailor-made
Thailand is apparently famous for tailor-made suits. On every street their seemed to be a tailor shop boasting high quality suits with the latest cuts for a quarter of the price. Master imitators, tailors claimed to be able to re-produce any suit from Armani to Gucci.
This meant nothing to me, but Mark became a kid in a candy store and thus began our great suit endeavor. I was dragged from shop to shop and forced to sit through lengthy fittings. I am very impatient, this was not a highlight, but by the time we left, Mark had three new suits to call his own and only paid about a hundred dollars for each one. Despite it all, I must admit, he looked quite debonair.
Visit the local temples
The Wat Chalong temple was an ornate pleasure. Wat Chalong is vast, consisting of several buildings and shrines and a large expanse of manicured lawn. A Buddhist temple, some of the buildings held golden statues of Siddhartha Gautama that told the story of his life and rise to esteem.
In front of every building you will find a pile of flip-flops. You are absolutely not allowed to wear shoes inside the sacred spaces. It was a gift to walk delicately and intentionally throughout the devotional spaces.
I always knew I'd find an excuse to return to Thailand. My honeymoon was just that.
I first encountered the beauty of Thailand in February of 2006, about a year after the Asian Tsunami ravaged its shores. I was in Kao Lak then, visiting my friend Susan who was on a long term volunteer assignment. Kao Lak, despite the devastation was stunning. I was entranced by the shimmering Andaman Sea, uplifted by the incredible resiliency and spirit of the people, disarmed by the stunning landscape and felt a sense of deep and overwhelming peace.
I always knew I'd find an excuse to return.
When my husband Mark and I were talking about honeymoon options Thailand was at the top of our list. He had never been, and I had enthusiastically talked it up for months. (Truthfully, I wanted to honeymoon in Mozambique, but I am pregnant and venturing to a malaria endemic region at six months is not the smartest idea). Deciding that we wanted to have a slightly traditional honeymoon (in the sense that we didn't want to stay at a backpackers lodge and rough it too much), we booked our package through a travel agent (I never do this, I probably won't do it again), who gave us an excellent deal on our flight and hotel. This was where the excellence stopped.
I remember telling the travel agent, that we wanted to stay in Kao Lak. We even went so far as to specifically choose the La Meridian hotel in Kao Lak after a recommendation from Susan. Murphy's law being Murphy's law, this didn't quite work out. Somehow, somewhere, we were booked at the La Meridian in Phuket (a few hours away). This I noticed way too late as we were chatting with an Australian ex-pat on the flight from Bangkok to Phuket. Now we've learned that both hotels are fully booked. There will be no changes.
So here we are in Thailand, on our honeymoon in Phuket instead of Kao Lak. I suppose things could be worse, we could be in Niagara Falls. We are after all still in Thailand, we are still at a beautiful La Meridian resort, and we are most importantly still on our honeymoon, so it is.
The La Meridian hotel is absolutely stunning. Set back off of the main road, surrounded by a private beach and a foresty mountain view, we're protected from the chaotic hub that can be Phuket. Our ocean view room is lovely (minus the small ant infestation in the bathroom).
It is now nap time, (this 12 hour time difference is rough) but I can't wait to get out and explore our accidental surroundings.
Sweet Makiko, who I met while training to go to Mozambique lives in Tokyo and we met up a few times. She took me around and showed me the ins and outs of Tokyo. Well, she showed me what she knew, she had just moved to Tokyo from Osaka and was almost a tourist herself. But Makiko was Japanese and spoke Japanese, that means she was able to translate and explain bits and pieces of the culture to help me better understand the complex hub that Tokyo is.
After meeting me at Hotel Okura, where I am staying with my now fiance (that's right ;) I got engaged last night :0) ) we traveled via the subway in search of the Imperial Palace and Gardens.
The Palace, home to Japans emperor and his family was quite the sight. Surrounded by a moat filled with swans and giant gold-fish, the palace and gardens are hidden behind a giant wall. Open to the public, complete with a museum, the palace is a major tourist destination.
From the Tower of Tokyo, you get a panoramic view of Tokyo from all sides.
An annual holiday celebration of lights, Lightopia is a spectacle to behold. You obviously want to wait until the sun goes down and don't forget to bundle up.
I am pregnant. My list of things that I can not do is vast. I can not drink sake. I can't visit the famous Japanese hot springs. I can not eat sushi. I thought I was doomed to spend my time in Japan slurping down noodles until Mark and I found this sushi establishment in Rapungi. On the menu, seared sushi- I was saved.
The sushi was so fresh. I ordered shrimp and salmon (it's best not to get too crazy during the first trimester).
The chef made our rolls right there in front of us.
Our sushi came with a bottomless cup of green tea.
*Note: Asking for ginger and wasabi on the side is a bit rude. The chef looked mortally wounded when we requested this as we are accustomed to in the states. "I have already placed it inside" was his horrified reply. And he had, he knew what he was doing and the food was phenomenal.
I'm a New Yorker. I find taxis to be off-putting. I don't know if it's the pine odor mixed with the smell of ripe pits, or the constant nauseating jostling, but I'm just not a fan of taxis. In Tokyo, I am a different person. Completely helpless when it comes to navigating their complex subway system on my own, I am not only dependent here on taxis, but I have come to enjoy them.
Why I'm loving the taxis in Tokyo:
* Note: Most taxis have a starting rate of 710 Yen. Which depending on your destination does not make for a cheap ride.
On every street corner you will find:
Amongst the restaurants you will find:
What is occurring?
The national art form of Japan, origami animals were a daily treat at Hotel Okura where we stayed.
Merry Christmas!
Surprisingly, Tokyo was decked to the nines. I almost felt like I was in the states with all of the garland, and ornaments (almost).
Japan is not a Christian country, however, Christmas is acknowledged and in certain areas (and among its Christian population) celebrated.
I got a kick out of all of the Christmas sale signs in the stores. I suppose commercialism is everywhere.
Strolling up and down the busy metropolis that is Tokyo, I couldn't get over the fact that people were free to park their bikes without chains, and without fear that they would be stolen.
Talk about a system of honor.
Known as The City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia is a world-class city worth visiting. Home of the first American flag, stomping grounds of greats such as Benjamin Franklin, Louisa May Alcott, Solomon Guggenheim, and Mr. Footloose himself, Kevin Bacon, and the distinguished first capital of the United States (1790-1800), Philadelphia is a city deeply seeped in history and tradition. So, how do you squeeze all of that into a day? You can’t. However, if you find yourself in Philly for the weekend, or are stopping by on your way to another North Eastern great, the below itinerary will scratch the surface without denting your wallet.
10:00 am – Brunch at Carman’s Country Kitchen
Imagine walking into a random restaurant in a foreign city. The moment you walk through the doors, the waiter, swoops towards you, welcomes you warmly, asks for your name, introduces you to the other waiters, and then takes you to your seat. For the next hour, you are having a great conversation with the staff, and the matron/chef/owner herself Carman.
Carman’s is a one of a kind experience. The tiny restaurant has three, yes three tables and one bar, giving the feeling that you are sitting in the kitchen with family. The interior is as kitschy and eccentric as the aprons worn by the wait staff.
Carman’s is the creation of Carman Luntzel, chef and owner. There are only ever four items on the menu that rotates seasonally and weekly.
I enjoyed an omelet with roasted turkey, chopped chicken liver, sweet onions, smoked gouda and apple wood smoked bacon.
Despite my tasty meal, my greatest takeaway, was the wonderful atmosphere and warmth of the staff. At Carman’s, they do customer service very well.
(Carman’s Country Kitchen . 1301 S. 11th Street)
11:30 am – Stroll through the Italian Market Right around the corner from Carman’s is a series of outdoor markets and vendors known as the Italian Market.
The market takes up a few blocks down 9th street and a stroll through the market is a great way to get a sense of the neighborhood and mingle with the locals.
An assortment of goods from fresh produce, fish, meats and handmade pine Christmas decorations and trimmings are available.
(The Italian Market . 9th street)
12:30 pm – Tour of the Old City Hall
Philadelphia is home to the first City Hall in America.
This impressive building was once Philadelphia’s city hub and was the original home of the Supreme Court (1791-1800).
The building and its rooms, which are perfectly preserved and marked, are free and open to the public.
(Old City Hall . Chestnut St and South 5th Street)
1:00 pm – Liberty Bell
“Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof” – reads the inscription on the Liberty Bell as taken from Leviticus XXV.
The line to get into the Liberty Bell visitor center is long. If you are visiting in the winter, bring your mittens. All visitors are subject to an airport-like security screening, which is truly annoying, but a sign of the times that we must learn to endure. Luckily, after the hoops that you must jump through to get inside, the center, which is free of charge, is truly inspiring.
The center is laid out like a mini-museum, where you can learn about the history of the bell through pictures, artifacts and films.
Before you exit, you get to meet the bell up close and personally. It was a lot smaller than I had imagined, but that didn’t stop me from wiggling my way to the front for a photo with the most famous lady in town.
(Liberty Bell . 600 Chestnut Street . Philadelphia – Old City Neighborhood)
2:15 pm – Philadelphia Museum of Art
Constructed in 1919, this impressive building hosts one of the largest museum collections in the United States.
The building itself is truly an architectural wonder with its columns and detailing.
Within the Philadelphia Museum reside more than 225,000 objects, which are broken down into about 200 galleries.
Among these pieces, you will find famous works such as Van Gogh’s Vase With Twelve Sunflowers and Monet’s Japanese Bridge and Water Lilies.
(Philadelphia Museum of Art . 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy)
3:30 pm – Visit with Rocky
On my way out of the museum, after running down the stairs like a champion ( there was no way I was going to attempt the ascent), I paid homage to the famous Rocky Balboa statue.
The line was long. In the end, I didn’t have the patience to take a photo myself. I did however catch this guy’s moment.
(Rocky Statue . Base of the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art)
4:00 pm – City Hall
The current City Hall building is an architectural beauty. Resplendent in white, silver and blue and adorned with gargoyles and statues, the building is the largest and most elaborate city hall in the country.
Just outside the city hall during the holiday season, you will find a Christmas market, with vendors and crafts. The city hall boasts an old fashioned carousel for the kids and sits adjacent to the famous LOVE statue, reminding us that Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love.
Make sure you have your camera for this one.
(City Hall . Market Street and South Broad Street)
6:30 pm – Dinner and a show at Relish
Relish grabbed my attention, the moment I walked in, with its earth tones and beautiful sepia portraits of jazz greats.
There are two dining areas and a bar. The first dining room is a more formal room that plays host to concerts (Relish boasts live music Wednesday through Sunday). The second dining area is less formal and very quiet.
The servers are friendly and the service is quick. The dinner here, your typical soul food fare with a modern edgy flare, was excellent.
The night I was there, I got to see Kathy Sledge (of Sister Sledge) perform The Brighter Side of Day, an uplifting tribute concert in honor of the late great Billie Holiday.
(RELISH . 7152 Ogtontz Avenue . Philadelphia, PA 19130 . 215 276 0170)
11 pm – Cheesesteak at Pat’s
After rounds of drinks at Relish, I was in the mood for something to munch on. It seemed like the perfect time to sample my first cheesesteak. I had to work for this one. Despite the time, there was a line.
Pat’s King of Steaks is credited as being the home of the Philadelphia Cheesesteak, which if you ask any local, is nothing to take lightly.
Invented at Pats in the 1930’s, a classic cheesesteak consists of thinly sliced steak seasoned with onions and provolone cheese on a hoagie roll. There are about as many varieties of the cheesesteak as there are opinions about who makes the best one. I decided to stick with the original steak at its home of origin.
My sandwich was delicious. The meat was well seasoned and piping hot. It was however very greasy and way too big for me to finish. A complete meal (not a snack), I returned to my hotel in a food coma. Perhaps the best way to end your stay in Philly, after sampling all of the local food, is with a run up the steps of the museum of art after all.
"Tourists don't know where they've been, travellers don't know where they're going."
- Paul Theroux
"It may be that the satisfaction I need depends on my going away, so that when I've gone and come back, I'll find it at home." - Rumi
"To travel is worth any cost or sacrifice." - Elizabeth Gilbert
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." - Lao Tzu
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do." - Mark Twain
"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
"If you don't know where you are going, any road will lead you there." - Unknown
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." - St. Augustine
"It is better to travel alone than with a bad companion." - African proverb
"The journey not the arrival matters." - T.S. Eliot
"There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find how you yourself have altered." - Nelson Mandela
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1. TravMonkey is an online forum for world travelers. The articles on this site feature top ten lists and tips to make your next adventure one to remember. The site is designed for travelers who want to be in the know. Send queries to Editor Paul Dow at editor@TravMonkey.com and check out the website at www.travmonkey.com. Approx $20 per article.
2. Pilot Guides Online publishes travel narratives pertaining to a specific activity or region. The site is inspiring and provides readers with a personal story to go along with a specific country, town, or landmark. The Pilot Guides Online site belongs to the same company that publishes the paperback travel guides as well as the television show Globe Trekker. To submit, send your article (300-600 words), complete with pictures to editor@pilotguides.com. Enter “travel story” in the subject field. You can check out the website at www.pilotguides.com (click community). There is no payment.
3. AFAR Magazine publishes articles relating to culture, eco-travel and off the beaten path travel itineraries. The publication is new and targets travelers who prefer to travel off of the main roads for the purpose of experiencing another culture as opposed to those interested in resort stays. There are several departments to submit articles to. It is best to read the magazine and get a sense of each section. The editors accept queries only and can be reached at features@afar.com. The website can be found at www.afar.com. Payment is arranged when the query is accepted.
4. Earthwalkers Magazine is a youthful, hip magazine with the aim of getting people out into the world to travel. Articles cover food, tips and advice and festivals. To write for the magazine you must become a member. Once you join the community, you have the option of requesting the writing assignment mailing list to be sent to you. Assignments are paid. Articles on average are direct and to the point, under 700 words. Take a look at the website www.earthwalkersmag.com. You can expect to make between $10-$150 per article.
5. Transitions Abroad is a magazine that focuses on cultural exchange through working and volunteering abroad and language study. Articles are designed for people in the process of transitioning to life abroad. The editors are in search of inspiring, detailed and practical information. Submissions can be emailed to webeditorial@transitionsabroad.com and you can look at the site at www.transitionsabroad.com. Payment ranges from $50-$150.
6. In The Know Traveler is an online site dedicated to cultural exchange. The editors are interested in travel photography, pieces relating to international music and unique adventures. A story can be sent to the editor Devin Gelaudet at devin@intheknowtraveler.com.com and should be between 450 and 600 words. The pay is ten dollars a story. See www.intheknowtraveler.com for details. Approx. $10 for a story and $3 for a blogpost.
7. Verge Magazine is an online publication dedicated to promoting information about international volunteerism and work/study travel. Contact contributing@vergemagazine.ca to submit a query if you have an article idea. The site can be found at www.vergemagazine.com. Payment negotiated after query.
8. Go Nomad is a site packed with information to help travelers plan for trips. Articles focus on topics such as creative lodging and restaurant picks by region, to tour information and itinerary planning. The articles are narratives and destination pieces and range from 800-2,000 words. Query the editorial staff at editorial@gonomad.com. You can review the site at www.gonomad.com. The running rate for features is $25.
9. Get Lost is an Australian magazine that highlights extraordinary travel destinations. The magazine seeks to inspire and present obscure locations and viable travel options. Luke Wright is the editor and Kelley Irving is the assistant editor. Write to submissions@getlostmag.com and include a brief biography, a brief outline of you proposed article, a sample paragraph, and photography samples. You can look at the site at www.getlostmag.com. Payment negotiated after query.
10. Perceptive Traveler is a well established travel site in search of excellent writing. In order to be considered for publication, you have to have a published article already elsewhere. Query the editor at editor@perceptivetravel.com and look at the site at www.perceptivetravel.com. Approx. $100 per story.
