WEEKLY NEWS | TRAVEL
Stories 15–21 January
True tales from all over the world

This week was off to a slow start story-wise which was lucky as I was on babysitting duties for the entire weekend while my daughter and son-in-law worked on their house renovations. Then come Monday, the stories flooded in! Your editors Anne Bonfert, Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages, JoAnn Ryan and Michele Maize have been on editorial duty all week looking for authentic stories from real writers.
Globetrotters News
Have you noticed we have a new banner on our home page? I bet those writers whose photos have been used have seen it. Our multi-talented editor Jillian Amatt compiled the photos and wrote about each writer. Thank you so much, Jillian. It looks great!
Writers of the Week
CosmicDancer has me wanting to go to the Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan! Doesn’t her story make you want to experience this too, or is it just me?
“Walking in the sand barefoot trying to reach the top of a dune or another to get a better perspective over the Martian landscape or drinking Bedouin tea while sitting on the sand in a semicircle, facing Mecca in the middle of nowhere while waiting for the sunset… Such simple things, yet so fulfilling.”
Another great desert adventure that I loved this week is this story from Scott-Ryan Abt. Hold your breath — it’s in three parts!
“We thought about opening the rooftop tent, but instead decided to sleep in the cab. At this point, there was little else to do but open a bottle of wine, put together a little meat, cheese and chocolate picnic and have a little cry.”
Reader of the Week
I see you’ve all been too busy writing your own stories to have had time to read others — that is with the exception of we five editors. Yes, we know we are superhuman! Please let me know if you deserve this reader of the week award.
January Writing Challenge
Kua Lina mulls over possibilities for her family’s travel this year. Where to go? It’s a conundrum for sure, especially with a family.
The A-Z of Favourite Travel Destinations
Darren Weir is on the ball this week with T for Tel Aviv. He’s almost tempting me to give it another try.
Darren Weir follows T with a fascinating U — Udaipur. It’s one of his favourite cities in India!
Jillian Amatt’s favourite E isn’t Egypt but Essaouira in Morocco. I think it would be my choice too.
Here’s my favourite W — Wales.
Africa
If you have any interest in what camping is like in Africa, Anne Bonfert’s stories are a must-read! I have no intention of following in her footsteps but I love reading about her adventures.
Wild Camping Where the Hippos are Playing in the Water
Our first day of the big adventure
medium.com
I think I’d enjoy this campsite. “Not even half an hour later, we arrived at Mvandi View, the first official campsite we’d stay in on this trip. Here we had a hot water shower, a bar and a swimming pool with a view across the Chobe floodplain.”
Here’s another brave story from South Africa by AlibsWrites.
Americas
Dan Carlson | Meandering Naturist writes about things to do in a day in San Francisco apart from sleep.
Patty McMahon, M.Ed tells us about her special place to eat in Phoenix. It sounds too spicy for me!
JoAnn Ryan lived in Florida for 5 years so she knows what she’s talking about. It’s not all doom and gloom but it’s not really a state I’ve wanted to visit. Oh, except Key West and Ernest Hemingway’s house!
M. Elizabeth Blair enjoyed her fun-filled week in Sayulita so much she wants to do it all again next year!
Allison Ditmer had a holiday job at the Wilds, North America’s Largest Conservation Facility. They had rhinos, giraffes, and camels — I’m not sure about elephants and hippos — our stories are full of African wildlife this week!
Michael Rhodes Cookie Jar experiment is going well. Who took the cookie from the cookie jar? What a great idea to just get off the couch and go to Palm Springs!
What a wonderful week young Nicholas Patten spent in Washington DC. You can hear his excitement and enthusiasm through his words. Great story!
Rodrigo Cunha Ribas lists some reasons people should move to Brazil. I’m not sure I would want to live there but I’d love to visit.
Krasi Shapkarova spends a wonderful few months seeing five states slow travelling. Great ideas here and magnificent photos!
Crystalgamet takes her family to Seaworld and comes away with some advice for prospective tourists.
Jamey Melcher writes a brilliant story about visiting Cuba and what you can do to help the poor Cubans — go visit!
Asia
We are learning a lot about temples in Thailand from D J Hopkins. These ones are slightly more unusual!
Here’s a different story from Thailand, written by our resident naturist written by Dan Carlson | Meandering Naturist who’s staying in a resort on the beach! Ahhh, the life!
Allison Ditmer takes her kids to Asia without leaving her hometown. What a great mum she is! Loved this travel story without the travel!
Jordhan Robinson recalls some of the foods he ate in Vietnam and how they reflect the culture of the country.
Ab Writes gives us the lowdown on the costs and crowds of Canggu in Bali.
B.R. Shenoy goes to the observation deck of the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai to witness the beauty of this man-made marvel. Amazing photographs!
Elvie Lins writes about getting around Singapore by public transport. It’s so long since I visited Singapore but I remember doing a lot of walking.
Europe
Claudia M. Zedda writes about her trip to Amsterdam. It’s amazing how people can go to the same place and have entirely different experiences.
Belcairn taps into the dream I’ve had for the past twenty-two years ever since I read Mary Moody’s Au Revoir. I stayed for two weeks in Mary’s house in Frayssinet-le-Gélat, a tiny village in the Lot Region of France. I loved French village life even more than I imagined I would. Some wonderful ideas, Belcairn.
Philip Ogley writes an interesting story about the iconic red phone boxes you used to see all over the UK. On my first visit, I bought heaps of postcards featuring them to send home.
Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages is disappointed their travel plans haven’t worked out — this time — but I’m sure they will in time. Travel isn’t all rainbows and lollipops even for seasoned full-time travellers like Jillian and Chris.
I loved Erika Burkhalter’s story about Constanta. I hadn’t ever heard of it. Her photos are stunningly beautiful as usual.
Heading off to Italy? Read Liz Volpi’s travel tips for Tuscany.
Vickey Maverick has an “encounter” with a Bulgarian gentleman in Sofia. I won’t be asking anyone where the Ladies’ Market is!
Simon Whaley finds the most interesting places in the UK — this time in Wales! Yes he does know how to spell “damn”.
Dominika Antonas writes a beautiful cold story about spending New Year‘s Eve in the north of Norway. Sounds idyllic!
Travel Tales
Aarti Tailor hears this being discussed in a hostel and can’t believe what these girls are saying! Are you ever too old to travel?
Aarti found herself living in three different wine regions across the globe. Can you guess where they were?
Crystalgamet’s experiences on a cruise helped her learn about other cultures. Has a cruise helped you in this way? I stopped cruising 10 years ago so I really can’t comment on what cruises are like nowadays.
Another cruise story! Susie Kearley’s cruise experiences won’t make you want to snap up a cruise bargain!
If I ever get the chance to go on another cruise, it’s going to be like that sailing ship like Allison Burney cruised around the Bahamas. Doesn’t this sound romantic?
“A windjammer sailing cruise is a unique tall ship experience where the destinations are influenced by the winds and tides to provide the ultimate relaxation and peacefulness on the water.”
This is a must-read from Ophélie Quillier. She says exactly what we editors at Globetrotters have been saying ad infinitum. It’s written in her easy-to-read style. Please read the comments as well.
Travel can help you in many ways as Angela Choi points out. She cites two experiences that had a profound effect on her and helped heal her relationship with her mother by forgiving her little by little.
Iva Ursano writes about clapping at the end of a flight. It must be an American thing. There was clapping after a particularly difficult landing at JFK and many sighs of relief! I was on a flight from Frankfurt at midnight one New Year’s Eve. As soon as midnight was announced, all of the German passengers clapped. I called out “Happy New Year. Where’s the champagne?”
This one by Suzanne Erickson is a must-read if you suffer from anxiety. Obviously, I don’t. I think if I did I would never travel anywhere let alone solo.
Ellen Eastwood thinks she’s being singled out as a solo woman traveller. The only thing I have to suffer is the explosives wand. I think it’s because I look like the least likely person to be carrying a bomb and they have to keep their numbers up.
TRAVEL STORIES BY GABE tells how we can save money when we travel. Fortunately, I already do 4 out of 5. The one I must look into more is the City Pass.
Here’s TRAVEL STORIES BY GABE’s second part to spending less when travelling.
M. Elizabeth Blair writes what she packed for that week in Sayulita and what she would do differently next time. I always pack a sarong and togs.
I really should pay more attention to Claire Elizabeth and her secrets to packing light. I just can’t seem to master it. I don’t pack any of he no-nos but I just can’t get under 20kgs!
Well, that’s it for another week, fellow Globetrotters. Hope you all enjoy your weekend and catch up on some Medium reading. We writers all like to have someone read our stories.
