Category Archives: Do

Doing Everything vs. Doing Nothing When We Travel

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One of the biggest lessons I learned while traveling solo is that I don’t have to see every museum, palace, or other such major attraction when I visit a new city. Previously, when I traveled with friends we usually crammed in as much sight seeing as we possibly could into a span of three or four days and this was okay in that situation. We moved through 15 countries and 9 months and had the time of our lives and we were lucky to see as much of Europe as we did.

However, since traveling solo for the first time my philosophy on touring a town has changed. I didn’t do everything in Stockholm and Copenhagen not only because there just wasn’t enough time but also because I wanted to take my time and only see the attractions I really cared about like the Fotografiska in Stockholm and the Kastellet in Copenhagen. And the nice thing about solo travel is that you can make up your own schedule and change it at the drop of a hat so if I wanted to take a break in a cafe or a park with the locals, I did that instead of rushing around from site to site with the tourists.

I’m glad I’ve experienced both methods of travel but I have to say some of my favorite photos from my Scandinavian adventure are those of myself and others doing absolutely nothing, beautiful nothing.

Sitting in Kundstragarden, Stockholm

Bookworm on Skeppsholmen island, Stockholm

Grilling on Liljeholmens island, Stockholm

Sleeping pup in Sodermalm, Stockholm

Enjoying the Opera House view, Copenhagen

Not reading but lounging at the Black Diamond library, Copenhagen

Taking a rest on Nyhavn, Copenhagen

Mother and child in Kastellet, Copenhagen

Sunbathing in Kastellet, Copenhagen

Resting in Fredericksberg have, Copenhagen

Lone lake watcher in Kongens have, Copenhagen

 

 

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How to Keep Your Travel Blog Running When You’re Not Traveling

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2011 is going to be a busy year for me what with a full-time job and part-time grad school. It’s a struggle to fit time in for travel and keep this blog updated and just when I think it is all too much, I think of Monica Wong from A Pair of Panties and Boxers. This girl does it all and still manages to put forth an amazing travel blog. She is the perfect candidate to give some prime advice on how to keep your blog going during the chaos and deliver quality travel posts to the masses.

Working a 9-7 with only 10 vacation days isn’t exactly conducive to maintaining a travel blog. It’s been months since I’ve traveled anywhere. So how do I keep my blog running when I’m not on the road? I’ve featured guest bloggers, accepted sponsored posts and shared photos to reminisce about my previous travels. They are some of the most common ways to add content to your blog but that can get old so once in a while, I like to shake things up a little. Here are a few creative ways I’ve kept my blog running.

Respond to other travel blogs

With so many amazing travel blogs, there has to be at least one post a month that really gets your attention. A post like this makes you feel so passionate that you find yourself typing more words than the actual post itself. This is where you stop what you’re doing and copy and paste your comment to a notepad or Word doc. Why? Because you’ve just got yourself a brand new post!

Whether it’s an appraisal or a rebuttal, take that comment-turned-blog post and share it with your readers. I read a guest post earlier this year by Steve Wade on Art of Backpacking where he expressed his opinion that traveling is the easy way out. Before I even finished the first paragraph, I felt a fury energy being released from my fingertips to the computer screen. The end result was a novel-length- comment-turned-blog post entitled, Traveling Takes Courage But The 9-5 Grind Isn’t For Punks Either.

Photo Collections

Who doesn’t love pretty pictures? Who doesn’t love cute kids? Who doesn’t love a little link loving from their fellow travel bloggers? After a while of sharing photos from my past trips, I was beginning to run low on quality photos. So, what did I do? I asked my fellow wanderlusters on Facebook, Twitter and via email to submit some of their travel photos to me. I’ve collected them by theme and here are some of the end results:

Crowdsourcing

Technically, photo collections are considered crowdsourcing because you’re, well, sourcing from the crowd. But instead of doing photo collections, you can just about crowdsource anything. For example, I had absolutely no Christmas-related content to publish before the holiday season so what did I do? I asked my fellow travelers where they will be on Christmas Day and shared their comments on my blog in Dear Travelers, Where Will You be This Christmas?

Go Local

Your backyard might be well traveled by you but it’s fresh territory for someone else. Write about the city you live in. Write about the neighborhood you grew up in. It’s close to home and no one is a better expert than you. It might not be as exotic as Mozambique but it’s still considered a travel post by someone who doesn’t live there.

Monica Wong is a social media account coordinator and the author of A Pair of Panties & Boxers. She used to want the corner office. Now she wants the world. Follow her as she shares her travels around the world & her travels through life. Either way she travels, it’s food for her soul. You can also follow her on Twitter @monica530.

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5 Ways to Have a Very Merry London Christmas

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My first Christmas away from home was difficult but being able to spend the holiday in London wasn’t so bad either. London offers much to see and do during the Christmas season  making it one of the most festive cities in the world. Here are my top five activities to have a very merry London Christmas.

1. Go Ice-Skating at the Tower of London

Ice-skate with friends and family at one of the many ice rinks open in the city. The Tower of London was the rink of choice for my friends and I, but equally impressive views can also be found at the Natural History Museum, Somerset House, and the London Eye. For a complete list of rinks and ticket information, read Time Out’s Ice-skating guide.

2. Do Some Christmas Shopping at Harrod’s

You may think you don’t have the cash to spend at trendy Harrod’s, but there is something for every holiday budget. I found great books and music for my friends and specialty chocolates and coffees for my co-workers. If you don’t find what you’re looking for at Harrod’s, the building’s night time lights should arrest you for a few minutes.

3. Stroll through Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland

This annual festival has it all – ice rink, ferris wheel, games for the kiddies, mulled wine, sauerkraut, and the above candy bar. If you can brave the cold, this Winter Wonderland is the perfect place to spend a Sunday afternoon in the city.

4. Marvel at the lights on Oxford Street

Usually you want to avoid the crowds on Oxford St. but not around the holidays. The Christmas lights along this bustling street are worth your time. After work, I would gladly walk many extra blocks to a farther tube stop if it meant I could gaze at the lights on the way home.

5. Attend a Christmas service at Westminster Abbey

Christmas Eve Service is not to be missed at the Abbey. If you arrive early enough, you can sit right before the golden altar with your jaw hanging to the floor as you listen to the amazing choir sing your favorite holiday songs. St. Paul’s Cathedral and St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church also offer spectacular services. For a complete list of times and services, read London for Christmas’ guide.

Happy Holidays!

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