WEEKLY NEWS |TRAVEL

Stories 9-17 December

So many stories … so little time

Christmas stories are rushing in — it’s like they have to be finished by Christmas Day! No — you have toll December 30 to write! Maybe you have a special experience this Christmas we’d love to hear about. I think this is going to be a cracker month for challenge stories.

December Monthly Challenge — Christmas and Other Celebrations

Jean Elizabeth Glass writes about her first Christmas in Lisbon. Wish I was there!

Stephanie Tolk spent last Christmas in Egypt! This Christmas she’s planning on taking her family to Guatemala. What gifts will she give her children this year? A jungle adventure? White water rafting? Zip lining?

Dan Carlson | Meandering Naturist writes a nostalgic story about a Christmas when his kids were much younger. Love the photos too, Dan.

Aarti Tailor recalls special memories of Christmas in London. Gorgeous photos too!

Steffany Ritchie walks through Boston, Edinburgh and New York City in this delightful Christmas story.

Marianne O shares the beauty of the music and lights of Christmas in Hong Kong. Who knew?

Keith Kelley takes us to Florence’s beautiful Duoma for Christmas. Oh, Italy is calling me!

Are you a Charles Dickens fan? I loved Simon Whaley’s story and photographs of Shrewsbury that were featured in the movie A Christmas Carol.

Anne Bonfert writes a beautiful nostalgic story about her Christmases with her family when she was a child. You’re so lucky your dad helps with the old photos!

Janin Lyndovsky shares with us a personal moment in her relationship with her mum. Just beautiful. Thank you for sharing, Janin.

Vincent Gragnani adds up the number of market chalets he visited in three countries! I don’t think he counted them!

Kris Talks Life writes about the Christmas markets in Copenhagen. Looks like I’m not the only one addicted to European Christmas Markets!

And last this week is my story of visiting Christmas markets all over Europe in a motorhome. After I finished writing this story, I remembered the Christmas market in Ljubljana.

Stories of the Week

I couldn’t go past arun’s beautiful story of his encounters with elephants and also the stunning photos. There’s something special about elephants and arun describes it perfectly.

I know Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages is part of our editorial team, but there’s no favouritism here. Read her story and tell me if you don’t agree it’s simply amazing!

JoAnn’s News and Views

JoAnn as usual keeps us up to date with all things Medium-related… well, everything really…reading this is a MUST!

Writers’ Spotlights

Jamey Melcher introduces herself to us at Globetrotters. Please make her feel welcome! You know how to do it! 👏👏👏

Welcome to Globetrotters, Harshita Kasera. We look forward to reading more of your travel stories.

Andrea Hoymann is a German-born Australian with dual passports. Oh, how I envy you, Andrea! I hope you make good use of it and bring back plenty of stories for us. 😉

My Favourite Travel Destinations A -Z

Jerry Dwyer loves Holywood, not Hollywood!

Dan Carlson | Meandering Naturist’s favourite C is in the Canary Islands. It does look like the moon, but I hope there’s no mooning… sorry, my weak attempt at humour…

Darren Weir’s favourite K is Kathmandu. Any other Globetrotters been to Nepal?

Darren’s Fourteen Hours in London is his favourite L! I can’t believe he saw so much in such a short time! I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been to London and I still only seen a very small part of it!

I finally get to write about Venice! I’ve only W, X, Y and Z to finish my alphabet!

Asia

Jay Davidson writes an interesting, if exhausting, travel experience in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

Jay also writes about his two visits to the Kerala Backwaters and Touring Halong Bay, Vietnam.

Simona Toma travels to Singapore, and then straight back to Bali. Her story continues here.

Linda Ng writes an in-depth account of eating places in Ipoh, Malaysia.

Nishan Fuard writes more about Hong Kong beautifully illustrated with photographs.

Kade Maijala thinks Shanghai is overrated. I loved it! Different strokes for different folks…

Anupa Jayakody writes about the vast differences in places you visit when you’re travelling through Sri Lanka.

Aarti Tailor writes why she thinks Thailand is the best place to start your solo travelling. I tend to agree with her reasoning.

Thea Elise writes beautifully about Ubud, Bali. I wonder if she knows Simona Toma?

Rhonda Carrier talks about the delicious food you can eat at the hawker markets in Singapore and Malaysia. They have a local place in Florida that has the same idea!

B.R. Shenoy visits a hotel in Abu Dhabi where no expense is spared. Oil has made UAE affluent and they know how to show off their wealth. My son lives in Abu Dhabi and his accommodation is not quite so luxurious…

Osan Fernando takes us on a Sunday drive to Tagaytay, just south of Manila. Check out her photographs!

Vanessa Brown writes a fantastic story of her month’s stay in Izmir, Turkey. I really want to go back to Turkey and stay here!

If you want to read a travel story that captures the beauty and atmosphere of a place, read anything written by Vincent Van Patten. This one is no exception.

Another beautiful story from Bali. This time by D J Hopkins. If I read any more of these passionate stories of Bali, I’ll be jumping on a plane. I’m getting email specials to Bali every day!

Africa

Isn’t it great when one writer inspires another? Janice Macdonald has inspired Ronald Smit to take a walk in his neighbourhood and take some photos. What a great prompt, Ronald! I’m going to do it too!

Does Oscar Rhea make it to the top? Read and find out!

Americas

After spending 7 years in tropical countries, Scott-Ryan Abt is home in Canada (?) and finds he has not only the cold to deal with, but the long hours of darkness in winter.

Janin Lyndovsky continues her motorhome trip across Canada and discovers some interesting stories along the way.

Charisse Tyson writes part three of the ongoing saga of her motorhome repairs. She still loves her RVing life — no worries about that!

Allison Ditmer reminisces about her trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. The photos bring it all back to her. Do you spend time looking at photos from your trips?

Robert Knight shares his little piece of paradise but worries it’s going to become more touristy.

Edith Bar writes about bizarre events of life in a van — not funny at the time — but it’s what fireside stories are made of!

It’s not often we see stories of Uruguay, but this story from Thrive On Life has it all!

Europe

Nicholas Patton takes us adventuring with him in Austria. I’m happy to be a spectator for this one!

I love Anne Bonfert’s story of Brasov and what happened to her on the way there! Thank goodness that didn’t happen to me!

Jean Elizabeth Glass shares more of her expat life in Portugal — it’s not all butterflies and lollipops but it is always fun…

CosmicDancer writes and shares some beautiful photos of the painted doors in Funchal, Madeira. I only know of Valloria, the small Ligurian village with the painted doors.

Jay Davidson gives some handy hints if you’ve never been to France. He’s been an incredible 12 times, so he’s picked up a few!

Australia

Barb Dalton spends ten days in Perth, Western Australia — not enough! If I could choose anywhere in Australia to live, it would be in this beautiful corner.

Travel Stories

TK Graeme writes an interesting list — of what to do when your flight is delayed (or you have a long stopover!) Great list!

Congratulations, Claire Elizabeth, for stepping out of your comfort zone. The first time is always the worst. You’ll be writing like a pro solo traveller before you know it!

I really enjoyed Nathaniel Mellor’s story of how he learned to present himself as a clean, tidy, sweet-smelling (not sweat-smelling) traveller.

TRAVEL STORIES BY GABE wrote a wonderful story about why you should be a tourist in your own city.

Great minds think alike — Kathryn Lee wrote the same thing in a completely different way. I urge you to read both of these stories.

Robert Knight raises an interesting question. Why are white people who choose to live in another country expats, while other people are called immigrants? And what’s the difference between an expat an an ex-culturist?

It seems minds were thinking alike this week and JoAnn Ryan writes about being an expat and that it doesn’t necessarily mean you hate your country. I’m probably getting a little confused here. Please forgive me. JoAnn raised the issue of expat vs immigrant and not Robert but both look at the issues around expats (expatriate and not expatriot!) and exculturists. If I’ve confused you, just read both articles and you’ll see what I mean.

Rhonda Carrier shares the lowdown on how she takes candid and not-so-candid photos of people while travelling. All great photos, Rhonda.

Linda Ng tells us why she loves to travel and challenges you to do the same. I’m chuffed that my story People Ask Me Why Do I Want to Travel? inspired her.

We have lots of stories about solo travel, but we don’t see many about travelling as a couple. Thanks, Bryan Dijkhuizen for sharing your thoughts.

Don’t read this story if you think I’m getting my comeuppance by skiting I never pay full fare for flights and I flew business class all the way to Europe in 2019. But I’m not a quitter — I’ll keep trying!

Jona Branzuela Bering fears going broke when she’s travelling. Is this one of your fears? My fear is losing my passport and all my ID, and I suppose my credit cards as well.