Travel & Photography
Globetrotters Featured Stories from October
Boosted stories and editor picks!
Dear Globetrotters,
So thrilled you could join us for another month of stories from our illustrious travel writers all across the globe — a true celebration of being here on this planet we call Earth.
On behalf of myself and my fellow editors, thank you so much for always providing us with your best! We love reading your work.
We had more than 30 stories boosted in Globetrotters last month, and even the ones that didn’t get boosted were still awesome! It’s a long list so just gonna cut to the chase here.
Congrats to all the hardworking writers!
Boosted Stories — October
Far from this being one more boring list of stories, I try to make this an interesting reading experience in and of itself by taking the time to highlight the very best quotes I possibly can from each story.
Enjoy!
1. Let’s Meet on Bourbon Street in The Big Easy
“Even in the midst of our daily difficulties, or when things are not 100% what we want them to be, we can still find an area in our lives to celebrate, if we focus on what’s right, instead of only on what’s wrong.”
A beautifully written story of visiting the iconic city of New Orleans.
2. Hurghada Liveaboard PADI SCUBA diving Red Sea
“Hard and soft corals covered the wall, which was dotted with crevices and caves, all of which were teeming with life. Overcome with excitement, I had to take a second to slow my breathing and just enjoy the moment.”
Dan offers us this great story of scuba diving off the coast of Egypt.
3: The Most Personal of Souvenirs
“I see the candle as a symbol that reflects the vitality of one’s life — perhaps questioning one as to whether theirs burns fiercely or merely flickers.”
Matthew writes about getting a tattoo in Thailand, offered to our popular October souvenir challenge.
He also had this second boosted story of crossing the borders of Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo:
4. Walking Between Countries
5. From Oxford, I Brought Back Gargoyles
“The wind would whip my hair, I’d clutch my camera, and I’d stare out over the warren of streets and ancient spires to the great green space of Christ Church Meadow and the River Thames beyond.”
An amazing story of experiencing gargoyles and bipolar depression while studying for a year at Oxford University.
6. My Favorite Travel Souvenir Costs Nothing But a Little Dignity
“I first stooped to pick up a smooth stone on the grounds of one of the beautiful heritage homes in the romantic Lake District of England, pretending I was Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice.”
As a rockhound myself, I loved this beautifully written story of collecting rocks as souvenirs.
7. How I Helped Maui’s Sea Turtles and You Can Too
“Along with other Hawaii Wildlife Fund volunteers, I created a runway of smooth sand and watched the turtles crawl down it to their new home in the ocean.”
A super adorable offering to our October souvenir challenge. Baby turtles are the cutest and they are such vulnerable little creatures.
8. Paris Is Meant to Be Seen On Foot
“Paris in the fall is a totally different experience. The crowds have thinned, and the weather is perfect with a mix of cool days and nights and still some very warm days and lots of sunshine.”
Darren’s travel tales are always a true treat of travel experiences, like this story of a walking tour of Paris and a TV-moment surprise visit with his sister.
9. Through the Streets of Androon Lahore
“As I walk beneath the gates, being pulled by the constant flow of bodies, I imagine how majestically it would have stood back in its day — with proud princes, haughty queens, and mighty emperors strolling beneath these same arches as me.”
A story of visiting Lahore in Pakistan that simply walks off the page.
10. In The Footsteps of Witches
“My partner and I were the only two people in the church during our visit and the silence was overwhelming. We turned a corner and to our surprise, the crypt was left open, beckoning you down the stairs.”
A spooky story perfect for October about a tour to a site where “witches” were persecuted in Idstein, Germany. Whew! Glad the witch trials do not go on anymore — so many of us witchy women would be crispy right now!
11. In Mourning for Ecuador
Oksana Kukurudza’s Sunflowers Rarely Break
“When I visited Ecuador in 2014, I went on a liveaboard diving trip of the Galapagos islands, where I dove with hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, sea lions, penguins, and even dolphins. I’ll never forget how friendly and playful the sea lions were in the water!”
A lovely and heartbreaking story of a beautiful country being affected by the horrors of encroaching drug cartels.
Oksana had this second story boosted as well, about traveling with her cute-as-a-bug daughter:
12. Global Travel with a Toddler
13. Smoke Rings over Mt. Etna
“Etna has existed since long before people first came to Sicily, and it has defined life there. It has been a source of fear and terror, but then it recedes into a source of vibrant life.”
A fascinating glimpse into an alien-like phenomenon in Italy.
14. Rock Energy: Uluru & The Heartbeat of Australia
“Sat on a small wooden bench, I become entirely immersed in the moment, lost in the natural energy surrounding me. I enjoy these moments, just sitting and being quiet. Fully engaging all my senses with the natural elements.”
A true treat of the senses from travels in Australia. Absolutely magnificent writing!
15. Camping in Idyllwild and The Significance of Feeling Insignificant
“We connect on the fact that we are both trying to make meaning of the more nuanced and challenging parts of life, while still having fun. It’s a balance we are always trying to achieve.”
Camping in the California wilds doesn’t get any better than this.
16. Cruising and Being an Introvert: Can You Make It Work?
Carol Labuzzetta, MS Natural Resources, MS Nursing
“As an introvert, it’s work to meet new people and it’s work to find time alone on a cruise. For me, it got much easier as the cruise went on. The first few days were stressful socially but I knew the feeling would dissipate and it did.”
Loved this story. Even we introverts can find guilt-free enjoyment in social places while traveling. Thanks Carol!
17. Wonderful Worcester. … Even when it floods
“How fitting, when my day began with swans, that these four elegant birds provided the perfect swan song to my fascinating day out in Worcester.”
Simon’s British travel stories are always fascinating and fun.
He also had this second delightful boosted story… cool! Ha ha, instead of ‘mind the gap’ it should be ‘mind the branch’!
18. Glorious Grasmere
19. What Travel Souvenirs Don’t Come in Cheap Plastic?
“They are reminders of a place that I once spent a moment or weeks or years in. They serve me as memory jogs. They serve as anticipatory devices too, when I look up what’s on offer in a place before I even go there.”
Yet another awesome story from our October souvenir challenge about collecting bottle caps. Wow. It was a true story boosting topic!
20. The 136 Boiling Hells of Japan
“Before me is a landscape of jagged rock, barren and dead. Steam rises from bubbling pools of yellow water, heated from the magma below the earth, for I am, in fact, standing on an active volcano.”
Eye-cutting imagery of volcanos and eternal damnation — goes together like a hand and glove, don’t you think?
21. You Gotta Have an Angle!
“You gotta?” Of course you do, even if it is just holding a point and shoot camera up to your eye and snapping a subject. That’s an angle!”
Great advice on challenging ourselves to get better angles when photographing places. Always good to have pointers we can use to step up our game there.
22. Remnants of Ancient Iran
“There is much to be discovered about Persepolis and the Achemenids in general, and someday in Iran, insha’Allah, interest in this period of history will return at scale. I am thankful to have finally seen it.”
Brad’s travels and writings from Iran give us a fascinating glimpse into this often-mystifying culture.
23. Pancake Rocks: the Stacks that Stump the Scientists
“What I find most intriguing about the place is that, according to one of the placards along the Pancake Rocks walkway, scientists don’t know exactly what caused the rocks to form like this. How cool is that? A geological phenomenon that has stumped science!”
Loved this story from New Zealand, told in Tim’s characteristic way.
Wow. Tim is one of two writers who had three boosted Globetrotter stories in October. Holy humpback whales. Congrats Tim!
24. Kaikōura: Whale Killing/Whale Watching Capital of New Zealand
25. At the Frankfurt International Book Fair…
26. Getting High On Tea In Kerala
“Maybe it was the altitude, maybe it was the tea, maybe I’m addicted to chocolate, but there was something about the day that made me feel like I was higher than even the most nefarious days of my misplaced youth.”
Loved this amazingly well-told story of a trip into the tea-producing mountains of India.
How cool is this? Paul is the second of two writers who had three, count them 3, boosted stories this month! He also had these two highly thought-provoking stories:
27. How Smartphones Killed Travel
28. Don’t Tell Mum About The Cartel Shooting In Mexico
29. Walking in Auschwitz Alone
“On the long walk back to the bus, I remembered my dad who survived World War II but was crippled the rest of his life who always said, “There’s no such word as can’t.”
A visit to Auschwitz is something we should all do once in a lifetime. Adrienne contemplates her own mobility limitations while thinking about those who suffered horrifically during the holocaust.
30. The Best Travel Souvenirs Are My Memories
Jillian Amatt — Artistic Voyages
“These stories remind me of why I travel. I travel to seek out new experiences and to meet amazing people. I travel to learn about other cultures and to understand that there are many ways for us all to live this singular life that we are given.”
An amazing and inspiring story that will simply make a person want to travel and write!
Jill also had this boosted story from her travels to the Himalayas:
31. H Is For Himalayas — My A-Z Of Favorite Travel Destinations
32. The Day I Stood on Top of the World
“I stepped on rocks and then on grass again. I pulled myself up on roots and whatever trees or branches I could grab. Many boulders required us to scramble up. Luckily it was dark and none of us could see how deep we’d fall if we slipped.”
Anne always has a way of not just telling us a story, but taking us along with her on the journey. We feel like we are there.
She also had this boosted story offered to our October writing challenge:
33. My Wedding Dress Was a Souvenir
34. This Rosary, Blessed by Monks in the Majestic Mountains of Trinidad, Brings Me Peace Everyday
“The Abbey of Our Lady of Exile Mount St. Benedict, the official name of the monastery, sits at an elevation of approximately 2,100 feet above sea level. At this elevation the air starts to cool and thin out a bit. The humidity drops and it’s often a welcome respite to the heat in the valley.”
Hooray! Even I managed to get one boosted in October. What a great month it was all around!
Whew. What a list! If I’ve missed any boosted stories from the last month, please kindly let me know. 🙂
If this still wasn’t enough yet for ya 😲 check out our prior month’s boosted stories: Globetrotters Featured Stories from September.
More Great Stories
Editor picks
It’s true, not every great story gets boosted for one reason or another. We publish them all month long, really. Here are a few:
Jillian: I Moved Out of the U.S., People Hate Me For It by Greyson Ferguson
I really enjoyed the tale told by Greyson as he decided to find a better life for himself and was met with criticism from, of all people — strangers.
“Glad you moved out,” the stranger said.
“The country doesn’t need you,” said another.
“Get hit by a bus,” began a third. “Have fun with that South American healthcare system.”
All random people. People I had never met. We had no connection, no shared friends, no crossed paths. Only they read a story about me moving out of the United States, and they hated me for it.”
Although I haven’t had people say these sorts of things to me directly about choosing to sell all of my possessions and travel full-time, I have certainly felt the criticisms through clenched teeth and words said that had hidden meanings.
Choosing to live differently than your peers and those that surround you, can be very threatening to them. Most people are more comfortable when everyone follows the status quo and goes along with the flow. But it is only in stepping outside of those boundaries of sameness, that we can grow and expand as individuals.
Thank you for sharing your experience Grayson. There are important lessons here for people from both sides of the coin.
Anne: Do You Have One Photo That Tells a Thousand Word Story of Your Travels? by Scott-Ryan Abt
Not boosted but certainly spiked my interest and inspiration. This writer came up with the brilliant idea to write an article based on a photo that tells a thousand-word story. The moment I read his title, I had one in mind already.
But not just the idea was great, his story and writing were too.
"In the summer of 2015, I decided to take a teaching job in Colombia. Teachers, if they are being honest with you and themselves, start planning their Christmas vacation almost as soon as their new charges walk through the door in August or September." — Scott-Ryan Abt
Adrienne: Weekend Visit to Lublin, Poland by Jesse R. Barker
“I turned the car into a graveled lot along a side street in the center of the city. The weather was uncharacteristically warm. Dappled sunlight filters through trees, towering over worn cemetery paths.”
Jesse takes his wife to Lublin to find her father’s grave, but finds so much more. I’m sorry I didn’t read his story until I had left Poland as Lublin was one town I didn’t get to visit. I’ll have to be content with his beautiful words and photos. Poland is a mostly undiscovered destination so I spent a month exploring by train. I loved it.
Michele: Hunting for Lions in Zambia and Zimbabwe by Oksana Kukurudza's Sunflowers Rarely Break
Oskana took her first trip to Africa back in 2007 for a safari with friends. On her way there, she read an article about a place where you could spend a half day with semi-habituated lion cubs walking with them helping to teach them skills for their future in the wild.
She had a great time and didn’t think anything negative about it until she went back for another safari in 2017. What she found out about that trip was astonishing. It turns out that it is a money-making scheme and they hadn’t released any of those lion cubs into the wild.
Not only were they not doing that but they were sold to trophy hunting companies when the lions were too big to walk with the tourists. Sadly, it is legal but we can support the lions by taking safaris in Africa with reputable companies.
This trip is #1 on my list and I have been mentally planning a trip to Africa for quite some time so I am so glad I read this article because I was unaware of these awful practices in Africa.
“By being the globetrotters we are, and taking safaris with reputable companies, more Africans can earn a living as guides and park rangers disincentivizing them from resorting to poaching or working for trophy safari hunters. Also, if anyone we know admits they hunt animals in Africa as trophies, we should shame them and then alienate them from society!
It would be a tragedy if future generations, like my daughter, never have the option of walking to see lions in the wild!”
JoAnn: The Enduring Souvenir by Simon Whaley
“…what this tragedy at Sycamore Gap has reminded me of is that the world is constantly changing. The landscape changes, both naturally and unnaturally, and so our photos not only document our personal travels, but the ever-changing world.”
Such a charming and sad story of saying goodbye to an iconic tree, and a perfectly decent proposal. Thanks for this great story, Simon!
Story recaps
Each week, our editors put together a recap of stories so that everyone can get caught up on their reading: STORY RECAPS — Globetrotters.
Challenge stories
Each month, we host wildly popular travel writing challenges. This month, our challenge is gray/monochrome: November Monthly Challenge — Gray.
You can catch up on reading challenge stories here: MONTHLY CHALLENGE — Globetrotters.
Spotlight stories
If you haven’t yet, introduce yourself to our travel writing community by writing your Writer Spotlight Story.
Check out prior stories and say hello to each other here: WRITER SPOTLIGHT STORIES — Globetrotters
Thank you to everyone for being here and congrats to both the viral story writers and those who got more modest views and reads! We love you all!
Thank you as well to my fellow awesome editors: Jillian Amatt — Artistic Voyages, Michele Maize, Anne Bonfert, and Adrienne Beaumont.
Happy travels to you!
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