Comments on: 5 Reasons Why You Should Carry a Travel Journal

By: Just Write Blog Carnival: February 26, 2010 Edition | Incurable Disease of Writing

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:12:14 +0000

[...] Hayes presents 5 Reasons Why You Should Carry a Travel Journal | Sharing Travel Experiences posted at Sharing Travel Experiences, saying, “Travel is a wonderful way to inspire your [...]

By: Andy Hayes

Andy Hayes — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:24:13 +0000

Phil, that’s a great suggestion, I’ll check it out. A shame we can’t automate journalling, but maybe that’s for the best.

By: Phil Steller

Phil Steller — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:11:16 +0000

I wish I could travel more. I love it. Unfortunately I have to work I’ve journaled when I did travel to Brazil several times. I love the fact that I have those memories recorded. For me, if I don’t record stuff AS IT HAPPENS, the details are immediately lost, and the vague general impressions even fade over time. I find journaling to be absolutely necessary and a powerful tool to my mental and spiritual health and vitality. I’ll probably be journaling for the rest of my life!

My current favorite traveler journal is the Pentalic Traveler’s Sketch Book. They come in a variety of bold and pastel colors and in 3 nice sizes. I like the small ones because I can fit them in my pocket. The paper is a nice 60lb sketch, very smooth. Perfect for dry media as well as various inks. I primarily write on them with Micron pens and FW ink and quills. I enjoy it greatly, and the ink doesn’t bleed through. They also open nice and flat. They have a waterproof cover and elastic enclosure (and pocket in the back for storing memorable things).

I just wish there was a way to journal “automatically”! It takes so long… but then, even that is an exercise in being disciplined, not to get caught up in the busy-ness of this modern society… BLECK! Patience patience.

By: What We’re Reading: January 29, 2010 | Two Go Round-The-World

What We’re Reading: January 29, 2010 | Two Go Round-The-World — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:18:35 +0000

[...] Write. Andy Hayes lists five reasons why you should carry a travel journal, writing: With real time networks like Twitter and Facebook, some may call for the death knell of travel journals. But there’s something about the blank page after a wonderful travel experience that social media just can’t capture. Read his post here. [...]

By: Vi @ Travel Tips

Vi @ Travel Tips — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:55:50 +0000

Everybody absolutely must have at least small notepad especialy if you on long trip. You are right about memory. What is very clear today, will be forgotten tomorrow.

By: MJ’s Travel Favorites 1-31-10 | Traveling with MJ

MJ’s Travel Favorites 1-31-10 | Traveling with MJ — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:55:05 +0000

[...] Sharing Travel Experiences explains why everyone should carry a travel journal. For travel writers and bloggers, it’s an obvious suggestion, but I love the comment that the journal itself becomes a souvenir. I love journals, and am always picking up one for my next trip. [...]

By: Andy Hayes

Andy Hayes — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:25:54 +0000

Oh Stephen, I’m really sorry to hear that. Not fun!

By: Michaela Potter

Michaela Potter — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:40:35 +0000

I’m a big believer in keeping a travel journal as it helps you on your path to self-discovery, which traveling is all about in my opinion! Plus there are things you will want to write in your journal but not share with the rest of the world through a blog. And there is nothing like flipping through your old journals to see how far you have come in your personal journey.

A great book that can help people make the most of keeping a travel journal is “Writing Away” by Lavinia Spalding. I recently reviewed Lavinia’s book and reflected on why I love my travel journals so much: http://briefcasetobackpack.com/2009/10/favorite-books-my-travel-journals/

And personally, I like wirebound, black covered sketchbooks. The ringed-binding allows me to open up to any page easily (offering a flat surface) and the thickness of the paper allows for easy writing and sketching. I find the 5”x7” size is perfect if I want to add postcards to my pages – allowing for some visual elements to my words.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:30:36 +0000

But…travel journals can get lost or stolen. Make sure you transcribe your notes into an email to yourself or google docs every so often. I learned that one the hard way: http://gomadnomad.com/2009/12/16/getting-robbed-at-knife-point/

By: Andy Hayes

Andy Hayes — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:25:48 +0000

My goodness – so again, it is unanimous and I’m right. Thanks for the thumbs up everyone. It is interesting to see so many Moleskine writers. But check out the other Abroad organiser too – it is *very* cool, I assure you.

Lola, I hadn’t seen that review before – great minds think alike!

And Dave/Deb, feel free to quote me in your article for TWE.