Travel & Photography
Globetrotters Featured Stories from September
Including boosted stories, challenge stories and editor picks!
Dear Globetrotters,
Hope you are all doing well! Glad you could join us for another round of fabulous travel stories.
This month we welcome you to visit the countries of Indonesia, the Congo, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, England, Costa Rica and more, all through the eyes of our amazing writers. We also had encounters with a wide variety of animals, thanks in part to our monthly challenge on animals, including gorillas, sloths, monkeys, deer, storks and that doesn’t even really scratch the surface there.
Wowie, what a tremendous month we did have!
Proud to announce that Globetrotters has become a haven for quality travel content. In September, we had close to twenty stories boosted as well as a few that were boosted from previous months—in total, I boosted eight of those myself while the remaining were boosted by other nominators.
I was pretty floored when I saw the total but then not really surprised. We editors have always advocated for quality when it comes to the content we publish, and although we’ve taken some flak for it, and sometimes have gotten some pretty nasty feedback from a certain few people, we have stood our ground.
And on the other hand, we’ve also received an overwhelming amount of support and positive feedback from writers and readers alike. They love this pub and the content we publish, and so do we!
This tells me that we are headed in the right direction.
Thank you so much to everyone for being here with us on this beautiful journey throughout the world.
Boosted Stories — September
We had a few new writers who joined us this month and proceeded to hit the floor running by providing us with some truly awesome travel experiences. Thank you so much to these writers and I hope you will show them some love with some valued reads and engagement.
At the same time, many of our veteran writers supplied us with their very best as well. Some have been with us for quite a while and we appreciate the continued support, patronage and influx of quality travel narratives.
Note that I’ve included a few stories on this list from the tail-end of August. A funny thing I’ve noticed about the boost, sometimes it does take several days or even weeks before the stories really seem to pick up steam. Not sure why this is, but it just is. Likewise, stories boosted toward the end of September will be included in next month’s featured story list.
Enough yacking already, here are the stories.
1. Sitting with Mountain Gorillas
“One of the babies ambles over and goes close to the person sitting next to me. Before he can move away as we were instructed, the little guy licks his arm. Then the baby turns and brushes up against me. I am expecting the spiky black fur to be coarse, but it feels more like being swiped with a cotton ball.”
A fabulously well-told story full of dazzling imagery and encounters with gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre).
Happy to see this story do well as Brad has been providing us with his great travel stories for quite a while now.
2. I Crossed One of the World’s Most Dangerous Bridges
“Someone tells me not to look at the water below and that the terror would subside, but I have to look at the water if I’m to watch where I put my foot. The bridge sways more noticeably the closer to the middle we get. The planks seem to tremble beneath my feet.”
Was so happy to welcome this new (to Globetrotters anyway) writer into our publication in September. When I first read her submission, I was truly astounded. Such beautiful and vivid writing.
Since then, she’s followed up with several equally fabulous stories, but this one was her first:
These Breathtaking Places Are Not in Switzerland — They’re in Pakistan
3. The Brightest Stars in the Darkest Sky
“Sunlight bounced off the glacial waters of Lake Pūkaki as we drove south along its shoreline, reflecting the light as a deep turquoise hue.”
Happy to see several of Tim’s stories do well this last month or so — he’s been gracing us with his tales filled with description, stories and wonderful bits of history for quite a while now. It’s lovely to learn more about the country of New Zealand through his eyes.
Check out more of his boosted stories.
Of Gold and Grapes in New Zealand’s Otago Valley
The Oldest Street Art in the World
After the Quake: Christchurch Resurrected
4. Hola World: My First Visit to the Siesta Country!
“My rented vacation apartment was located only a few feet from the Mediterranean Sea, and I could hear the whooshh…wwashh.. of the sea waves from my living room and bedroom.”
Fun, quirky and interesting. Loving this new (to us anyway) writer who shares her fun travel experiences delivered in her own unique style and voice.
Since then, she has graced us with several more of her fabulously told tales, so you will definitely see her again in next month’s boosted story list.
5. From Iron Curtain to Wildlife Haven: Cycling Germany’s Green Belt
“The absence of people made the experience feel intimate, as if these beautiful sights and sounds existed for me alone.”
Cycling through the beautiful country of Germany? Yes, please. A beautiful narrative with wildlife encounters and a little history thrown in.
Another new writer we added in September and I’m so glad we did. You will see him again next month as well.
6. “Take The Cannoli” — A Sicilian Story
“The day had finally come. Move over Don Corleone — the American kid in Deutschland was about to revel in Sicily’s old-world charm.”
A delightfully interesting and often amusing visit to Sicily. I believe David had us all at “Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line.”
Ok, it was probably before that actually, but doncha just love that line!
7. Time Is Ticking for the Eroding, Perched Village of Civita Di Bagnoregio in Italy
“As it happens often in towns around Italy, the very moment we stepped through the arched way, we found ourselves catapulted into the Middle Ages.”
Oh, the joy of getting out of the city and visiting lesser-known small towns can’t be underestimated. Roberta presents us with a story that is travel, nostalgia and a bit of history all at once. Roberta is a newish writer who joined us here at Globetrotters in August.
9. Ocean’s Elegance: Backwater Shores of Remote Indonesia
“Many villages that make a living by these shores are quite fascinating to visit. The best part? Thousands of them remain invisible to global travelers.”
Go ahead, get away from Bali already and discover other parts of Indonesia. Enjoyed this well-written story about less well-known areas of the country.
Manas joined us a writer in August as well. Welcome!
10. A Cracked Head and a Healed Spirit
“I looked around at the concerned faces staring back at me and realized that all these strangers had a genuine concern for my well-being. Despite knowing only one of their names, I felt strangely safe.”
A lovely story about slowing down to enjoy the pleasures of travel. All of us can probably use a lesson there! Yet another great writer who joined us in August. Must have been a great month.
11. Wander Wall
“The section above Peel Crags is pleasant, especially on a glorious weather day. It’s relatively flat, and the views extend southwards across England’s Northern Pennine range of mountains.”
Love Simon’s wonderfully written journeys through England’s best kept secrets, always accompanied with magnificent photos. Glad to see his writing get the eyeballs it deserves.
12. I Lived in Airbnbs for 3 Years. These Are the Weirdest Places I Rented
“You specifically chose my apartment because it had air conditioning, remember?
But if you don’t mind, could you not use it?”
A delightfully fun story about less-than-stellar Airbnbs stays. Oh wow, I suppose we’ve all been there in one way or another. I know I have! Like the woman with a list of rules as long as my arm and two brats who screamed their heads off our entire stay (do they ever sleep? And why didn’t the ad get the mention of screaming brats?) Thanks Charlie!
13. 6 Life-Changing Lessons I Learnt as a Solo Female Traveller
““The world is your oyster” is such an empowering phrase, until you realise that it comes with having to make tough decisions, such as choosing one place to visit out of the hundreds available.”
What does someone do when suddenly faced with having to travel alone? They just go with it. This story is a great example of offering tips, experience and inspiration from a first-person point of view. Thanks for joining us as well in September!
14. Riding the Bernina Express: Europe’s Highest Alpine Crossing
“Shortly after leaving Ospizio Bernina, we passed a marker noting that any water falling on one side would eventually make its way to the Mediterranean Sea while water falling on the other side would make its way to the Black Sea.”
A train ride through the Alps? Sounds so completely romantic and enjoyable! Loved this delightfully well-written story with lovely photography to boot.
15. When the Sun Was Shining and the Alpenhorn Was Sounding Across the Valley
“The gondola quickly took us from the bottom of the valley to the ridge between two mountain peaks. Stepping off the cabin, we were greeted with astonishing views across not one but four mountain ranges behind each other.”
A magnificent hiking journey with husband and father. Our editor Anne always sets the bar high when it comes to travel writing. Such great inspiration for all of us!
16. We Laughed Hysterically When the Stork Stole Their Lunch
Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages
“I feel like, for the whole month, we had wide smiles on our faces as we set off to walk the road to our painting project and back again while visiting and interacting with all of the animals.”
Editor Jill’s stories are often a mix of personal experience, location information and fun stories.
She also wrote this well-performing story in order to kick off our September wildlife challenge. Such a great travel writer! Her stories just always seem to do amazingly well, and they are so well-told.
Our Neighbours Were Snakes, Sloths, Monkeys and Iguanas
18. The Food and Environment in Costa Rica Healed My Gut and My Soul
“The people in Costa Rica, the weather, the ambiance, and the abundance of tropical plants nourished my soul. Oh, and don’t forget the wild animals that made my heart so happy.”
Last, but certainly not least. Actually, I do believe this was our best-performing story of the month. Amazing photography and a great visit in Costa Rica can be life-changing and gut-healing. Just ask Michele.
There you have it! If I’ve missed any boosted stories from the last month or so, please kindly let me know. I try to catch them all but alas I’m merely one human, after all. 🙂
Check out our prior month’s boosted stories: Globetrotters Featured Stories from July and August
More Great Stories
Editor picks
We love all of our writers and all of their stories, not just those that get the boost. Not all stories get the attention they deserve so here is a list of personal picks we put together just for you!
Anne: “Flight Attendant Diaries: When I Flew to Alaska for a Date”
This girl is a little like me. She lives a life totally different from all the others. She usually isn’t home for holidays or weekends and works when most others are off.
But just like my life as well, hers has some advantages one can live off. The excitement of always traveling to new places and what do you think about flying to Alaska for a date? All paid for, of course.
Janna shares this romantic getaway in an entertaining narrative that transported me once around the world. To Alaska.
“Coffees in hand, we then strolled to a walking trail along the water. We wandered along for quite a ways, enjoying the combination of cool air and warm drinks, and the peace of each other’s company. Together we admired the serene setting and the beauty of the distant mountains.” — Janna Barrett
Michele Maize: “Watching An Endangered Species in Venice”
Belcairn writes with a creative twist to her story and although there is tragedy, it is a captivating read. While in Venice, Belcairn happens to be there during the Redentore, the festival that means most to the locals. After a tragedy and when it is over, she describes it and ends her story with…
“The beautiful people have gone back to their hidden places, unseen by most visitors, but still here, or returning annually to the place of their birth.
That endangered species. The Venetian.”
Adrienne: Halong Bay: An Emerald Lagoon Filled with Caves, Kayaks and Hot Aussie Guys
I read JEN Mallett’s story Halong Bay: An Emerald Lagoon Filled with Caves, Kayaks and Hot Aussie Guys just before I landed in Berlin. Jen tells how travel plans sometimes don’t materialise and you just have to “go with the flow”.
In Berlin, I went with the flow and enjoyed every minute. There were so many wonderful stories in September and several of my favourite writers wrote multiple stories to keep me entertained. Thank you!
JoAnn: On a Mountain Peak It Stands
“I ran up the path, leaving my friends behind, itching to stretch my legs after hours in the car, weaving through mountain roads in the rain and fog.
As I was about to reach the top of the hill, I lifted my head just in time to see the shadowy outline of the spaceship-like building floating in the fog.”
Loved this story by Krasi Shapkarova about repurposing abandoned places. Such a well-told story! Go ahead and give it a read, a clap (or 50) and a nice comment.
Jillian is extremely busy traveling at the moment so will give her a pass.
Story recaps
Every week, our fellow editors put together a recap of stories so that everyone can get caught up on their reading: STORY RECAPS — Globetrotters.
Challenge stories
Every month, we host a new travel writing challenge. These are fun to participate in and the stories often get high reads. Some have even been boosted.
This month, our challenge is on souvenirs: October Monthly Challenge — Souvenirs.
Also, check out the culmination of our recent September wildlife challenge: Wildlife — The Finale.
You can catch up on reading challenge stories here: MONTHLY CHALLENGE — Globetrotters.
Spotlight stories
If you haven’t yet, introduce yourself to others in the Globetrotters 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 editors, Michele Maize, Anne Bonfert, Adrienne Beaumont and Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages for always bringing their A game to the table.
Happy travels to you!
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