Book Cover

Destination: Southeast Asia

Book: 30 Reasons to Travel: Photographs and Reflections from Southeast Asia, by Joel Carillet

A Guest post by Dr. Jessie Voigts

This is a treasure-trove of photos and text that encourage thinking and learning about travel, others, and the common joys of humanity.  I’ve not read a book that was so very thoughtful about people and places. I’ve lived in Japan, but not yet traveled to Southeast Asia. This book was an enticing look into cultures that are new to me.

One of my favorite reasons to travel, in this book, was Bac Ha’s Sunday Market. Joel describes the Vietnamese market, full of Flower Hmong in colorful costumes, “brought to mind a Henri Matisse painting run amok.”  The photos accompanying this essay, indeed, show us the bright colors and marvelous embroidery that this culture is so famous for.

Perhaps for me, the best of the book is the underlying premise that the choices that we make in life, and in travel, contribute to our experiences. As an intercultural educator, I truly believe that to explore a culture fully, we must open our eyes, hearts, and minds. This book does just that.

I was lucky enough to sit down and talk with Joel about his new book. Here’s what he had to say…

Wandering Educators: Please tell us about your new book, 30 Reasons to Travel…

Joel Carillet: For several years I’ve published stories in magazine, anthologies, and on the web that dealt with specific places and people, but I’ve never had a format with which I could create an overarching argument for why travel is so valuable.  30 Reasons to Travel, my first book, gave me this format.

Through both word and image, the book invites the reader to consider how he or she is part of a journey that the world itself is already on.  A lot of “list books” have been published in the last ten years (e.g., 1000 Places to See Before You Die), but what sets this one apart–in addition to its more than 275 photographs–is its more reflective nature.  If you want a book that will tell you about plush hotels or the best places to get a tan, this isn’t for you.  But if you want to consider the beauty of laughter, the value of holding a child of another race, or what a meaningful souvenir may look like, you’ll probably like 30 Reasons to Travel.

In putting the book together, I kept two interrelated realities in mind:  First, not everyone can or does travel abroad.  Second, many lessons of travel also have application in one’s own home or neighborhood.  And so each of the 30 reasons is intended to provide food for thought not only for those who travel but also for those who say close to home.

As for structure, the book is divided into 30 sections comprised of a short story or reflection accompanied by photographs.

WE: What is your travel philosophy? You’re a very intercultural traveler…

JC: Neither I nor the book argue that there is only one way to approach travel.  Each person is different and so what each person takes into the experience of travel is different.

Having said that, my philosophy–and what I encourage others to consider–is that travel is one of the best ways we have to enrich our understanding of what it means to be human.  The Jewish philosopher Martin Buber wrote that “all actual life is encounter,” and I think he’s right.  Not only do we encounter new people abroad, we also encounter ourselves in a new way.  We’re enriched as we meet people, cultures, and issues outside our usual context, and hopefully others are enriched by us as well.  Travel nurtures a sense of interrelatedness and leaves us dissatisfied with knowing the world merely through a television screen or newsprint, because travel shows us that you can’t actually get to know the world this way–and on occasion get it just plain wrong.

You can read more of the interview at Wandering Educators.

Dr. Jessie Voigts is the Publisher of  WanderingEducators.com and contributes each month to A Traveler’s Library. She has a doctorate in International Education, and is passionate about intercultural learning. She and her husband are Worldschooling their daughter, and enjoying every minute of it. She is also a nature photographer and lives on a lake.

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©2010 A Traveler's Library. All Rights Reserved.

You can own this T-Shirt

There were actually only three entries in the contest to win the t-shirt that says “I guess there are never enough books.” So deciding on a winner was not as difficult as usual.

The winner, Casey Freeland, who, after a rather lame start about hiding a tattoo, goes on to promise us WORLD PEACE. How can you beat that? (I think Casey may have been watching too many Miss America Contests.) Here’s his complete answer:

That’s easy… because it will serve two purposes, like any well written prose. First, it will hide my tattoo which has a creature in it that makes people nervous. Second, it will make me seem soooooo smart, which makes people believe I am imparting some great wisdom every time my lips start smacking.

The result is immediate improved communication between me and everyone I talk to. Those I speak to will feel better about themselves, more confident, and go out into the world. Like a virus of good will they will infect all those around them.

The subsequent chain reaction of happy will spread across the globe until it reaches every mountain peak of the Andes and every Polynesian island.

And then… world peace.

All because you gave me a shirt.

And the runner up–winner of a bookmark that lists all of Steinbeck’s books:Jackie Smith of TravelnWrite, because Jackie tied up books AND travel:

I love the quote credited to Saint Augustine that says, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page.” For those of us who love travel AND books, books are the means of armchair traveling to distant lands we may never reach, they serve as the introduction to new places we may well visit and they serve to bring back memories of earlier travels. Therefore, just as with destinations, there can never be too many books.

Congratulations to both of you.

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©2010 A Traveler's Library. All Rights Reserved.

Here are the WINNERS.

• Sheryl Kraft: $80 Gift Certificate that she can use at ANY  of 200 CSN Stores, like the vanity store. Thanks so much to CSN for this generous donation.
• Alexandra Grabbe: A copy of Fodor’s travel guide to France.
• Melanie McMinn (for her mother Patricia Ray): A copy of Fodor’s travel guide to France. Fodor’s was so generous to share TWO of their travel guides for this Giveaway. Thank you!
• Mrs. Stocksy: A copy of I’ll Never Be French. [Hello, dear. I need a U.S. address I can mail to, please.]
• Melanie McMinn for her mother AGAIN! A designer map of Paris from A La Carte Maps. In addition to their offer of a map for the January Giveaway,this creative Swiss company sent me this Paris Map as well. Thanks A La Carte Maps. You’re beautiful.
• Andi Fisher A copy of Failing Paris.
• Richard Mussler-Wright, who commented TWENTY times–that’s how seriously he wanted to win this prize–A free tour of Montmartre led by the author of Paris Movie Walks. (Actually worth 100 Euros, Marlys tells me, for four people, and they will invite you to their home for coffee and croissants.) And how generous of the wonderful and talented Michael and his right-hand lady, Marlys to give this tour of their own neighborhood. Thank you so much for this GRAND prize.

See all the rules for the Bastille Day Giveaway here.

And now– drum roll again, please–what do you say we have an ITALIA Giveaway?? I don’t have a date set yet, but I already have accumulated six books about Bella Italy. Sound good to you??

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©2010 A Traveler's Library. All Rights Reserved.

Bastille Day Giveaway Closes tomorrow night at midnight (MST/Arizona).

Winners will be announced on Friday, July 16.

SEVEN Prizes:

• $80 Gift Certificate that you can use at ANY  of 200 CSN Stores, like the vanity store.
• TWO copies of Fodor’s travel guide to France.
• A copy of I’ll Never Be French.
• A designer map of Paris from A La Carte Maps.
• A copy of Failing Paris.
• A free tour of Montmartre led by the author of Paris Movie Walks. (Actually worth 100 Euros, Marlys tells me, for four people, and they will invite you to their home for coffee and croissants.)

See all the rules for the Bastille Day Giveaway here.

PLEASE let me know if you will be in Paris in the next year to take advantage of the tour of Montmartre. Or leave your comments on any post at A Traveler’s Library by midnight tomorrow night.

And how are you celebrating Bastille Day tomorrow? Here at the library, we’re visiting New Orleans when it was still more French than American as we stop in Louisiana on the Great American Road Trip.

Thanks to CSN online stores, Fodor’s, A LaCarte Maps, The Free Press (an imprint of Simon and Schuster), and Michael and Marlys Schurmann for the contributions to this Giveaway.

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©2010 A Traveler's Library. All Rights Reserved.

Paris A la Carte Map

Today I am adding the gorgeous map of Paris from A La Carte.

Now please return to the regularly scheduled program and read about finding Faulkner in Mississippi.

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©2010 A Traveler's Library. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks to guest writer Margo Milllure of Travel Belles, who wrote about a South Carolina mystery by Dorothea Benton Franks.

Your Favorites

Readers continued to favor road trip books, and last month’s October Sky (West Virginia) drew lots of readers in June, as well.

1. But for new entries, the most popular proved to be a movie, Departures, about an unusual profession in Japan.
2. Next came the Edgar Winning mystery novel that represented North Carolina.
3. Then another mystery, this one comic, set in Florida.
4. The novel Writing Jane Austen did not thrill me, but you liked to read about it, anyhow.
5. Lagging somewhat behind these came a round up of Internet sites about travel books
6. And the second installment of Trip Planning for France.

People Who Comment

Just weren’t feeling as chatty as usual in June, were you? Numbers 3 and 6 above, plus Tom Wolfe’s A Man in Full drew the most comments from readers.

Chattiest: Connie Ong (Anjuli) We have been missing Connie. We learned from Facebook that she’s been ill and she promises to be back with her own blog and commenting away in the near future. Take Care, Connie!

Others with five or more comments:

• Richard Mussler- Wright
• Dr. Jessie Voigts from Wandering Educators
• Mark Heers of Travel Wonders of the World
• Alexandria of Chez Sven
• and Colleen of Slow Travel

Thanks very much to the faithful band who contribute so much to A Traveler’s Library. We’re always happy to welcome new readers and there were many of those this past month.

Link Love

Two blogs in particular sent a nice number of readers our way during June.

Thanks to

• My Itchy Travel Feet
• and to Mother of All Trips

Are you traveling in July? Reading a travel book? chime in and tell us about it.

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©2010 A Traveler's Library. All Rights Reserved.

A la Carte Maps: Shanghai

I made a list of 257 comments, tweets and people who had subscribed during May. And then I went to Random.org and asked them to pick a number. They picked 83. I looked. It was Laura Baran.

Congratulations to Laura, winner of the A La Carte map of her choice. (She tells me she’s thinking Munich.)

Check out the A La Carte Maps web site and see if they have a map to suit YOUR destination.

And please read on for another winner–Edgar Winning novelist John Hart takes us to North Carolina.

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©2010 A Traveler's Library. All Rights Reserved.

Newfoundland

Destination: Newfoundland

Book: February by Lisa Moore

Sometimes I am amazed at how close my reading edges  to  my life and world events. February, a beautifully lyrical book released in February 2010, bumped up against current events with its retelling of an accident on an oil rig .

In the news as I read the book, an oil rig collapsed in April 2010 and the ensuing leak currently threatens the life in the Gulf of Mexico as well as the tourism trade of the beach towns all along the coast. Tragically, eleven workers are dead and many more injured, but their fate has sunk nearly out of site in the news on the environmental disaster.

Lisa Moore‘s new novel, February, relates the story of a fictional family affected by a similar accident off the shore of  Newfoundland. However in the sinking of the semi-submerisible vessel Ocean Ranger in February 1982, 84 crew members slipped into icy waters and died.

The month of February equates to cold and bleak in the northern hemisphere–the most forbidding time of the year. And the novel, with its spare dialogue and raw emotions feels chilly.

We mainly follow the thoughts of Helen, mother of four, who lost her husband on that day. Her thoughts spiral through time and space taking us back to 1982 and earlier in her relationship with her husband, and then back to the present where she tries to make sense of a world where she is growing older, but her dead husband Cal will forever be 32. Although 16 years have gone by, part of her is frozen in the past. The spiral includes her grown children, whose lives remind her of bits and pieces of her youth.

Moore brings us thoughts and dialogue in bits and pieces that tend to repeat and dangle between characters unformed and incomplete. It feels totally real.  When she focuses on the mundane details of life, I think ‘How does she know so much about my life and my feelings?’ For me, that is the mark of the best kind of novelist. They get life right.

Life barrels through; it is gone.  Something rushes through. The front door slams and then a door slams in the back; something burns on the stove; birthdays, brides and caskets; babies, bankruptcy, huge strokes of luck, the trees full of ice; gone.

As for Newfoundland–we see the houses, feel the biting cold of the wind, hear the cadence of the speech. Canadian writer Moore knows her surroundings and has researched the historic details of the Ocean Ranger so that part is real, too.

You can read an interesting interview with Moore, but it may be a spoiler if you have not yet read the book.

The novel was provided for review by the publisher, Black Cat, an imprint of Grove-Atlantic. The photograph is used under Creative Commons license, from Flickr.com Click on the photo for more Newfoundland scenery by the same photographer.

You can read more 2010 travel books at A Traveler’s Library. Have you tried Two new Road Books, a prize-winning travel book from New Zealand, French cook book, or a book on Mark Twain as travel writer?

Have you visited Newfoundland?  I have not, but the photographs make me think it would be a beautiful place to go. Not in February, perhaps.  And have you read Lisa Moore?How do you like these books that are mostly dialogue and not much external action?

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©2010 A Traveler's Library. All Rights Reserved.

NASA's View of the World

I’m a World Travel Blogger.

First you read about the world.
Then you plan a trip.
You have become a world traveler.

At A Traveler’s Library, we define travel books as those that define a place or a culture and make us want to go there. And we define world travel as ANYWHERE in the world–from a few blocks away from home (36 Hours in Tucson), to a  South Pacific Island.

If a road trip around America does not sound like world travel to you, keep in mind that Europeans and Asians and South Americans come to the U.S. for road trips all the time. And a Greek writer set a thriller on America’s roads. That’s world travel too.

All of the above explains why I am so proud that A Traveler’s Library was chosen as one of the Lonely Planet Blog Sherpas, and why I am so pleased to meet so many other bloggers talking about travel. You can find my posts scattered among the pages of the Lonely Planet web site.

Once Lonely Planet put these bloggers all in the same room, so to speak, by creating a list serve, a strange and wonderful thing happened–they became a world-wide family. Little by little, like a baby exploring its fingers and toes, they realized that they could increase their reach by banding together.

Lots of ideas are rolling around on that list serve of LP Sherpas, but one of the best was the creation of this world travel Squidoo page. Any time your travel lust needs a little tickle, take a look at this list of bloggers talking travel.

Note: You will not find all of these bloggers on my favorites page for various technical reason.  Just bookmark that Squidoo page and you will have your own window into world travel, with links to their latest posts.

Please tell me: Where do you go when you need to get information on travel? When you just want to learn about a place you didn’t know about before? What are your best Internet resources for travel? Let’s pool our resources.

And remember, if you subscribe by e-mail you DOUBLE your chances of winning in the May Travel Book Giveaway. Not to mention that you double your reading fun by getting these posts in your mail box when they are fresh out of the oven.

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©2010 A Traveler's Library. All Rights Reserved.

Hooray for Guests! The top four new posts in April were written by Guest Posters!  Thanks go to

• Kerry Dexter for Family Travels From Ireland . Follow Kerry at Music Road
• Mark Heers for Twain’s Travel Literature Sways Another Mark. Mark’s look at travel wonders is a must read for me.
• La La Corriere for New Book Brings France to your Kitchen. Get more of her delicious writing at her blog.
• Jessie Voigts for A Travel Book Guide to Ghosts in Chicago. See the very incredible travel site Wandering Educators for more of Jessie’s Work.

Usually I don’t bother to tell you about older posts that rank near the top, but I thought you might find it interesting. So here goes, with new posts in bold and older posts in ():

• Family Travels from Ireland
• (Road Trip Books: The List)
• Twain’s Travel Literature
• (Old Book for a Quiet Corner of Ireland) People go there to snatch the picture, and only stay a few seconds.
• New Book Brings France to your Kitchen
• (36-Hours or So in Tucson Slide Show)
• (Italy Week at A Traveler’s Library)
• (3 Best Travel Secrets of Greece)
• (Hiawatha, American Classic Poem for Children)
• (Ancient Rome in Literature) I suspect folks may be looking for pictures of the Roman Forum here, but they stick around a while, so maybe its the topic)
• A Travel Book Guide to Ghosts in Chicago

People Who Comment (a Lot)

You may have noticed that bloggers or web site owners are rewarded for their comments at A Traveler’s Library by getting their latest post promoted, but ALSO, if you have a twitter handle, you can add that so that people can follow you. Cool!

More than Ten Comments during April:

• Anjuli (Connie Ong)
• Jessie Voigts (Wandering Educators–link above)

More than Five Comments during April:

• Kerry Dexter (Music Road–link above)
• Richard Mussler-Wright
• Mark Heers (Travel Wonders–link above)

I would like to mention that the blog drew a whole lot of new commenters last month, and we hope they will keep joining in the conversation. I just love to see those new names pop up!

Next month I will not be reporting on most comments–because the contest will skew the results. Back in July with a report on June’s commenters.

People Who Drive Traffic to the Site (Other than Search Engines and Stumble, etc.:

2010 Bloggies.com (still sending viewers because I was one of five finalists as best of travel blogs in Bloggies 2010)

Fisher Academy International Blog (linked to a guest post about a children’s book on Monet’s garden in Giverny.)

Lonely Planet (Where I am a BlogSherpa)

Dream of Italy 2 (The blog for the wonderful newsletter about Italy. I’m on the blogroll there and wrote an article for the newsletter about fractional properties in Italy.

Wandering Educators (Where I am Traveler’s Library Editor)

Music Road (Who partners with me on The Great American Road Trip).

Thank you all!!

And having launched the Great Big Literature Giveaway II in yesterday’s post, I look forward to your comments as you vie for the awesome bunch of books to be given away.

Tomorrow The Great American Road Trip returns with a post from a family member who lives in old Virginny. If you have missed any of the New England or mid-Atlantic states that we covered before heading into the South..be sure to start with the kick-off post,  Blue Highways, and check the posts every Wednesday after that to get your reading material for the road trip.

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©2010 A Traveler's Library. All Rights Reserved.