The Return of Indie
This blog entry about the events of Saturday, August 18, 2012 was originally posted on August 19, 2012.
So you may have noticed that I haven’t been so active on The Global Trip blog since that trip to Uganda and Rwanda in January, other than that announcement that I was going to Kenya on my first press trip on behalf of Discovery.com a few weeks later. If you recall that entry, I debated whether or not I should blog a press trip here since that’s really not what The Global Trip blog is about; it’s always been a blog about my independent travel, figuring things out in other places, and making things up as I go. Additionally, it’s been my ulterior motive to inform you desktop travelers out there that one doesn’t need to be especially privileged to travel around the world; if you really have the desire, you’ll find your way to make it happen, even if it takes some time and sacrifice.
As you may have noticed, I didn’t blog the Kenya trip after all, nor any of the subsequent press trips. I’ve taken five of them since Uganda/Rwanda — Kenya, Israel, Finger Lakes, NY, western Canada by rail, and Telluride, CO (where I’m writing this) — and they’ve all been great. In fact, “great” is an understatement; these press junkets were far more luxurious than I’m used to — and what you’re used to reading here. Some included five star hotels, a private jet, “glamping” tents with plumbing (even bidets!), VIP treatments, and many world-class meals. While all this is nice — and I am very grateful to have partaken in them as a representative of the several travel/food media outlets I freelance for these days — it’s not the way most locals live in these destinations; it’s the way luxury tourists see things through their glamorous, ruby-studded sunglasses. Most tourism boards and PR reps want travel journalists to have the highest end experience possible, and so they pull out all the stops for that all-important first impression. And for the most part it works — although I’ll admit right now that one breakfast I had on one particular press trip tasted gross, like it’d been sitting out for hours (because it most likely did.)
But impressed I have been for the most part, and I’m happy to continue to be impressed in the future — but as a writer representing the outlets I write for that do allow me to take press trips. Traditionally, “real” news outlets — e.g. The New York Times, Outside, Huffington Post — forbid their reporters to take free press trips out of journalistic integrity; a travel story isn’t authentic if it’s already skewed by someone putting a destination in a positive, luxurious light. Not only that, but often press junkets have structured daily agendas that leave little to no time for a traveler to experience a destination outside of the press bubble.
In terms of maintaining The Global Trip blog you’ve come to read, enjoy, and travel vicariously through for almost a decade now(!), I’ve decided to continue to keep it real and only blog about my independent, personally-financed trips with no skews or ulterior motives — other than to inspire indie wanderlust — which is unlike many of the newer travel bloggers I’ve met out there, who only blog about sponsored press trips. How’s that for integrity for a travel blog that started with pictures of my diarrhea? Granted, I’ll post a video or article here and there that came out of a press trip, but it won’t be a part of the continual Global Trip travel blog saga I’ve amassed here for years.
Anyway, this all brings me to the next non-press Global Trip: Gone Europin’, which will bring me back to Europe for a couple of weeks. No fancy hotels, no private jets — just a jaunt through Europe to see and share a few things I haven’t before, and visit a few friends and relatives — including some recurring characters of “The Trinidad Show” that you may remember if you’ve followed this blog for some time. Who they are and where they’ll take me, you’ll just have to tune in and find out. And soon enough — THE TRIP BEGINS August 20.
And don’t worry, there shouldn’t be any diarrhea pictures.
Next entry: No Sleep ‘Til Berklyn
Previous entry: Full Disclosure of an African Boomerang
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.
Comments for “The Return of Indie”
and we’re back… i’m riding short round style on my keyboard as usual…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 08/19 at 06:29 PM
Having a Leffe brown during a layover in BRU at 7am is okay if it’s still 1am back home.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 08/20 at 08:04 AM
Glad to see you’re back, I thought we’d lost you to the dark side for good.
When do you get back? I “may” be in NYC weekend of September 7th. Have fun with my people in Germany.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 08/20 at 08:46 PM
Behind on blog entries already since I’m working on the road— totally regretting that I agreed to that. Hope to have the first entry up soon, if time permits…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 08/21 at 07:25 PM