How brave you are! I completely understand your hesitation with eating tarantulas. I'm not sure if I could do it. Especially with the hairs still being attached. Do the locals eat the whole tarantula? I would think that the erictating hairs on the abdomen would be a problem. Thanks for sharing a great experience! Clare
I agree with this piece as well. I had a chance to see a snippet of Amsterdam on a layover to Kenya. I had a day to romp around the little city but I found myself running into numerous tourist traps, fast food venues, markets crowded with dim-witted visitors, and tulip shops that didn't sell flowers. After being groped by one too many hands, I decided to retreat to the airport and try again another time. Next time, I will be sure to head for the local treasures, far from the tourist spots. Thanks! Clare
Agreed. This was a humbling and honest piece that I would recommend everyone read! Thank you for posting.
Seconded. Iyer's writing transports you so easily from the room to his setting and you don't want to leave. Thanks for finding this!
Hello. My name is Clare and I am the Editor-in-Chief of Immersion Travel Magazine. Recently, the Creative Director, Chris Scotti, and I traveled to San Francisco to cover several destinations for our upcoming issue and we stayed in two different hostels along the way. Our experiences at both places were quite different and we started to wonder if there is a method to choosing and staying at hostels. We are looking for advice about hosteling for our upcoming issue. If anyone has advice or knows of someone to contact or would like to submit an article about hosteling for our issue (http://immersiontravelmag.com/blogroll/?p=247), please let me know in this discussion topic. Thanks everyone!
Agreed. Wonderful post. After reading this I found an article on Huffington post about cat cafes opening in San Fran and Oakland: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/03/cat-cafes_n_4719316.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003&ir=Trave... Pretty interesting.
Thank you everyone for this discussion. When I saw this article, I was struck by the same feeling that many of us had in that it was one more piece about how the travel writing industry wasn't what it seems. I agree that if a story is well written (or beautifully shot), no matter its author or publication, it deserves to be read and enjoyed. In a perfect world, readers would have the most honest travel stories to enjoy from the magazines and blogs they read. In any case, there will always be publications that provide incredible, honest and ethical stories and publications that don't, but I think the articles that should maybe be put to rest are the ones that merely pass judgement on the larger travel writing industry.
Thank you so much for organizing this. We have been looking forward to viewing this documentary and sharing it with fellow travelers. We just updated our information and are looking forward to receiving a password. Thank you again!
Hello Pegi. Thank you so much for taking the time today to answer all of our questions. And thank you for making this thought-provoking documentary. We will be posting a review of the doc after this interview as well on our website: www.immersiontravelmag.com.
I have a few questions for you.
1. I noticed that much of the footage was taken by different kinds of gear and at different places. How much of the footage did you and your team personally take and how much of it was donated or sent in by others?
2. What were your resources for the facts that were shown, such as the biodiversity fact that came up during the scene featuring the anaconda?
3. Was this your first documentary?
Thank you again!
Clare Hancock
Wonderful, thank you.
What a great discussion. I agree with what has been said as well. I was amazed to see an article like this in Conde Nast Traveler, but I agree that it was much too brief for many readers to take seriously. Also, is recent years, there have been many local sustainable travel companies that are trying to create programs and trips that preserve the history, culture and environment of these destinations. While the sheer volume of unaware tourists has degraded these magnificent places, I agree that cutting out tourism all together isn't a solution either. There needs to be more tour companies that regulate the number of people allowed on tours at one time; more conservation programs where travelers can partake in the preservation of land and heritage; more tours that offer creative activities that provide engaging experiences for travelers but don't exploit culture and resources. There is a way to appreciate the world without destroying it; as a species, we need to focus our energy on perfecting that balance and promoting the outcome.
-Clare Hancock
Sorry this took a little while, but our review is up as well:
http://www.immersiontravelmag.com/?q=content/trail-well-traveled
Thanks again!
They are a great group of people. We will have an interview out soon with Kelly Campbell and her experiences with the organization. The Village Experience has programs across the globe and have been helping communities reach goals they never expected. We will be sure to post our interview on Outbounding in a couple days.
Seconded. This is such a great interview, one that travel journalists would give an index finger to conduct. The reflections made throughout the interview were thought provoking and reminded readers to look at the bigger, more important picture: we are all just people trying to survive the best we can. A little understanding, a lot of listening and a plate of food go a long way.
I completely agree. Nearly every place I have traveled, I have made plans to return to; however, there are so many places I would love to see and experience and learn from.
-Clare
A couple weeks ago, I attended the West Seattle Summer Fest in hopes of connecting with fellow travelers and spreading the word about Immersion Travel. The response I continually received was "I don't travel." "Been there, done that." "I don't read travel magazines." "You're wasting your time." All of this before I even had a chance to share a story, a few photos, a video or an article. It could have been the 90 degree heat that turned people off or perhaps the locals were perfectly comfortable staying within the confines of their neighborhood, but I wonder if the constant barrage of lifeless, rose-colored swill that is the majority of travel journalism today has turned people off from it all together? The reasons stated in this article and by Andrew Mueller in his talk are the exact reasons why we started Immersion and why it will be an uphill battle to fully launch. Chris and I were tired of being forced to take compensations from destinations, being told what should stay and what should be cut, editing our work because of what the advertisers would allow. Immersion is about supporting the writers, photographers and videographers that contribute honest and reliable content and we learn more every day about how best to feature sustainable destinations.
Thank you for this inspiring reminder as to why we strive to be so much better,
-Clare
Thank you Outbounding for a great discussion today. Here is our idea for TBEX:
According to Rick today, TBEX's agenda is to educate travel writers and travel bloggers. What would it take to go the extra mile and work out an educational workshop, investigation tour, or some kind of behind-the-scenes tour with the local tours companies featured on "the list" for people to enroll in before the conference? Step 1: TBEX would set up behind-the-scenes tours with any company that agrees to it (while TBEX doesn't need to cut out certain tour companies on its list, anyone paying attention would see that this would weed out any company that doesn't want to publicize their core practices). Step 2: The tours are free for conference attendees, money doesn't go into the pockets of the company unless the travel writer decides to contribute after the examination. Travel writers are free to ask any questions, see any part of the internal workings, talk to the owners and managers. Step 3: Travel writers are free to publish their findings and experiences. TBEX has done its job educating their audience. Every travel company has had a fair chance to get in on the action. Travel writers didn't support a company they didn't want to. Tour companies that are sustainable are given the attention they have earned in the media.
Any thoughts?
Yes, unfortunately when I was interviewing Rebecca, she kept referring to the website instead of answering my questions, so I was sure to add the link to their website. They are adding more organizations and lodges every week, which is very exciting but help from the Outbounding community would certainly make a lasting impact. Rebecca is a great person who just wants to help wherever she can and she has found a great way for every traveler to make a difference easily. Anything helps.
Just posted our review for Janapar if anyone is interested:
http://www.immersiontravelmag.com/?q=content/experiencing-janapar
Cheers!
Glad to see so much wonderful discussion taking place for this topic. Here is an introductory post we wanted to share in celebration of Indigenous People's Week. We will be posting throughout the next couple weeks on the Native Cultural Trail in Arizona provided by NANACT. Looking forward to the days ahead!
http://www.immersiontravelmag.com/?q=content/celebrating-sinagua-during-indigenous-peoples-week
Thank you for sharing this. Seeing these kinds of things happen more often every day gives us hope and makes us think how next generations may lead better lives.
We discovered a brand new community in downtown Las Vegas that is our kind of awesome. A shopping district that supports the arts as well as community engagement and is completely constructed of re-purposed shipping containers and recycled materials. Live music, healthy food, a playground, and dozens of boutiques make Downtown Container Park the best place to be in Vegas (at least that is our opinion). This little island of progressive thinking and sustainability in the sea of consumerism that is Las Vegas was a refreshing experience and if you're in Las Vegas, be sure to check it out.
The Spot... a Child's Museum is one of the incredible places we found on our trip to central Arizona. Completely run by volunteers, this nonprofit organization is dedicated to educating children of all ages about science, technology, fine arts, history, and local culture. Every exhibit in this small museum was hands-on and specifically geared to engage children with all attention spans. The next time you plan a southwestern vacation for the family, we suggest adding The Spot into the docket.
I found this article to be very interesting and I was glad to see that so many sources were used to make the point. With the term "bucket list" being used more and more as a marketing term and a quick way to get the attention of thrill seekers and travelers, I can see why it has been seen by many as a negative term. I also think that it is still considered by most to be a positive term that encourages individuals to challenge themselves to find ways to achieve personal life-affirming goals. I think it is important to be able to distinguish the difference between the itemized check-list that the bucket list has turned into and the list of goals that keep people striving to do more for themselves and others. We need to distinguish when a tour company is using the term as a marketing technique and only plans on spending five minutes at the Louvre and a company that is passionate about the experience and its impacts and plans an entire interactive day or week at the Louvre. I would hate to see the term "bucket list" become a completely negative phrase in the travel industry as it was the destinations and goals on my own "bucket list" that inspired me to start Immersion.
-Clare
What a beautiful and inspiring story! It reminds me of the efforts that are being done in the Native American Studies department at the University of Oregon. I worked at the university for two years and was given the privilege to report on the projects being done by undergraduates across campus. Several students have taken it upon themselves to work with their tribal elders to learn their native language and create dictionaries and lessons for learning and preserving ancient heritage. Without these languages and stories, we lose a part of our world that can never be regained. Our world becomes more shallow every time one of these languages disappear. Marie's determination to preserve her language and her heritage is inspiring and if there is a way help inspire others to do the same, we would be honored to take part. Thank you for sharing this.
Hello everyone,
This discussion has been quite inspiring and has sparked a few questions regarding the future of volunteer travel and what travelers can do to make good travel decisions. I am interested in writing and publishing an investigative article on Immersion Travel about volunteer travel and the shape it is taking. I am interested in fleshing out some of the complex issues that were discussed here on Outbounding and have been touched on my other sources. If anyone is interested in helping with this endeavor, please e-mail me at clare@immersiontravelmag.com. Insight into this topic and advice on further information sources is greatly appreciated. I believe our readers would benefit greatly from an article about this topic. The article will also point to other resources on the topic such as People and Places, Shannon and Amy's books and Ethan's Beyond Voluntourism publication.
Thank you,
Clare Hancock
Hello everyone,
This discussion has been quite inspiring and has sparked a few questions regarding the future of volunteer travel and what travelers can do to make good travel decisions. I am interested in writing and publishing an investigative article on Immersion Travel about volunteer travel and the shape it is taking. I am interested in fleshing out some of the complex issues that were discussed here on Outbounding and have been touched on my other sources. If anyone is interested in helping with this endeavor, please e-mail me at clare@immersiontravelmag.com. Insight into this topic and advice on further information sources is greatly appreciated. I believe our readers would benefit greatly from an article about this topic. The article will also point to other resources on the topic such as People and Places, Shannon and Amy's books and Ethan's Beyond Voluntourism publication.
Thank you,
Clare Hancock
We loved this article and it just reaffirmed why we try to do better every time we start on an article about a destination. Someday, we would like to start an online course focused on good travel writing (the ethics, the work involved and the prose). Some of our best writing has come from the notes we have taken immediately after or even during our experiences. Those impressions are the truest descriptions and we work to craft our articles around those experiences or the experiences of others around us. The research and follow up fills the rest of piece up nicely.
Small world! My father's side of the family lives in Eugene and when I found a journalism program for Masters students like myself, I thought it was a great fit. The Native American community on campus has really flourished and strides are being made to better the lives of tribal members across Oregon and Northern California. There was a huge symposium in 2012 the I attended that focused on human rights issues and projects centered around tribes. It was very eye-opening and I have been passionate about those topics and ways to help and learn more ever since.
What a cool article and humbling adventure. Some of our closest friends and family insist on traveling with no fewer than three suitcases each and we are always pained to see them wrestling their luggage around. This article was inspiring and we would like to try a similar experiment when we travel to Europe. Thank you for sharing!