More Travel Tips

I seem to be on a travel-bent these days. But things catch my eye and if I feel they would benefit readers of my blog, I'll pass them on.  So, here's the third New York Times article in a row - this one with 9 constructive tips for keeping trip costs in check. Not all my apply in a given situation, but all are worth considering if not for now, then for a future trip.  For there are always future trips, right?  Right?

http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/08/for-travel-savings-in-2013-go-retro/?nl=travel&emc=edit_tl_20130111

More Travel Dreams

To follow up on the previous post on Paul Theroux's travel wish list, I came across this article, no, collage I guess, on what is on other's dream list for 2013 travel. Entitled "Travel Drams and Where They'll Take Us," the dreamers dreams are simple yet profound and capture the various reasons why we travel to where we travel.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/01/13/travel/traveldreams.html?nl=travel&emc=edit_tl_20130111

Sweet dreams.

A Traveler's Travel Wish List

Paul Theroux, the author of such travel narrative classics as the Great Railway Bazaar, Patagonia Express, and Dark Star Safari, still has a wish list of places.  And I've even been to some - Idaho, Montana, the Dakotas, Lombok Island (next to Bali). Even the great travelers have other places they want to visit. And, as is usual for Paul, his short article on his wish list is of great prose.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/travel/paul-therouxs-travel-wish-list.html?nl=travel&emc=edit_tl_20130111&_r=0

I think I need to reframe my wish list in prose as well.  Its 23 degrees outside, the wood stove and leather chair, and laptop beckon.

First Stop for Visa, Entry Requirements

Came across a great website today concerning international travel and the need for visas, etc.  I would double check, of course, with the country's US or UN embassy website to be sure concerning visas.  And would check the CDC website for currently vaccination recommendations.  But this site is a good starting point.

http://travel-requirements.vagabondish.com/

When to Save While Traveling and When Not

An insightful article by the NY Times Frugal Traveler on how to travel frugally without going overboard.  I remember, many years back now, taking the bus from Washington DC where I was a Congressional Intern, to Williamsburg, Virginia. Upon arrival at Colonial Williamsburg, I was shocked by the cost for a day pass to the site and, instead, opted for a pay-as-you-go scheme, not realizing how costly that would run.  Ended up only going into a couple of the buildings there, running up a tab almost as high as the full-day admission would have been, and catching the bus back to DC that evening, a couple of bucks richer but infinitely poorer in terms of experience.  I still remember that experience to this day and try not to short-change the experiences of travel to save a few bucks here and there.

http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/27/the-argument-against-pound-foolish-travel/?nl=travel&emc=edit_tl_20121201

MacArthur Winner: Uta Barth

Yes, photographers sometimes hit the big time.  Uta Barth, a professor emeritus at U.C. Riverside, just became one of the 2012 recipients of a MacArthur Grant - for $500,000.  Popularly called "genius" grants, the award has no strings attached and allow the recipients to do whatever they please - hopefully furthering their artistic or scholarly endeavors.  Now, I only mention this because I've never heard of Uta before today. But in checking out her work, I'm very excited!  Her focus is on seeing the differences in how our eyes see versus what the camera sees and "how the incidental and atmospheric can become subject matter in and of themselves." Definitely not cookie-cutter or traditional photographs, her work definitely explores light and shapes and the qualities that emanate from the very instrument used to record images - the camera.  A cross-section of her work can be found at: http://www.tanyabonakdargallery.com/artist.php?art_name=Uta%20Barth.

And you think YOU make mistakes

I attended a workshop two years ago in Cusco, Peru, with Daniel Milnor as one of the leaders. His blog, smogranch, is always of interest.  But his latest entry, on mistakes made, is one of his best. And unless you've made your share of photographic mistakes (let's not even get started on mistakes in life!), you're not trying hard enough!

http://www.smogranch.com/2012/11/19/failure-as-friend/