Feature photo by John Wardell (Netinho). Photo above by h.dot.

You’ve just gotten back from a year away and now you need to get a job. You’re nervous and have to figure out how getting drunk at hostels, lying on beaches, and photographing churches can be classified as “experience.”

First, breathe. It’s not that bad. You’re lucky, not only because you got to travel, but because current events have turned in your favor.

Businesses need experienced people who know other cultures, have a desire to learn, are motivated, speak another language, and are willing to move around, all of which are qualities you possess.

It was only five years go that taking a year off was considered career suicide, but now, it’s often considered a career boost- a sign of independence, motivation, and ambition. Employers won’t throw away your resume anymore because of a gap year.

But how do you turn that year into tangible experience to showcase in a resume?

1. Don’t put everything on your résumé

90% of your travels aren’t really “experience,” but soft skills you picked up on the road: people skills, confidence, and independence. Though you may be tempted to write that stuff on your resume, don’t. You’ll sound cheesy and as though you are just putting in useless filler.

2. It’s not the resume, it’s the cover letter!

Your travels are a story and the details don’t translate well as bullet points on a resume. Talk about them in the cover letter, where you can give more detail.

Explain why you left, what your experience taught you, and how it makes you a better employee. This is also where you want to mention those “soft skills,” as they require more detail than a simple bullet point expression. Discuss your travels in depth here using only a small section of the resume as support.

Photo by SOCIALisBETTER.

Tip: Regale interviewers with funny (but not over the top) stories. It will make you stand apart from everyone else. Those willing to take a chance are the type of leaders businesses look for. They want people who lead them into new directions, not waste away behind a desk.

3. Step by step instructions for articulating your experience.

Step One: Call it what it is. Many people put their trip under work experience, but since it’s not work, it’s not work experience. At the bottom of your resume, create a section called “Other Experience” and title it “(Your Name) Gap Year” and include the dates.

Step Two: Pick tangible skills. Skills that translate into any job. Like everything on a resume, this will be all about how you word things. Choose your wording carefully. For example:

Haggled over a dollar with a tuk tuk driver or tried to save a few thousand Dong off a shirt in Vietnam? Negotiation Skills.

Got stuck in an airport because you forgot your plane? Adaptability.

Had to plan, finance, and organize your trip? Budgeting and Planning.

Got stuck in a jungle at night because you explored off the trail? Self-reliance and independence.

You get the idea. It’s all about wording your experience correctly. Notice how those are all skills you can use in the business world. I didn’t put any of those “soft skills” down.

Writing “I’m good with people” is generic and makes you sound full of crap. Choose only job related “hard” skills for the resume because what you are doing is showing how your life experience makes up for your lack of practical experience.

Photo by psoup216.

Step Three: Know your audience! Only put travel on your resume if it helps explain an extended work gap (i.e. a year or longer), is relevant to the job, or unique. If all you did was live in Thailand on Phuket and got drunk then it is useless filler that will only hurt you. If you volunteered in an orphanage in Cambodia, then keep it on. If this job requires extended travel, definitely put it here.

So what would this all look like? Here’s how I would put it on my resume.

Other Experience

Matt’s Gap Year 2007-2008

• Developed negotiation skills through daily contact with sellers in markets and vendors throughout Asia.
• Learned how to adapt to unanticipated situations and improvise new plans due to periodic travel mishaps and unexpected events.
• Developed budgeting and planning skills by financing, planning, organizing my year around the world. This involved using various spreadsheets and keeping a record of expenses.
• Cultivated language and communication skills through contact with people from around the world. Learned to use non verbal and verbal communication to overcome communication and language barriers.

That sounds professional, actionable, and tangible. It explains each skill and how I developed it. Remember that the employer is going to ask you to explain these points just like they would any other part of your resume.

It’s important you have anecdotes supporting each bullet point, especially since these have no boss to confirm any of this- just your word. If you can’t explain it well, keep it off.

Use your travel experience to differentiate yourself. That’s why in the beginning, I said put it in the cover letter. It allows you more time to explain the story behind it.

Being sick sucks. Here’s how to feel better even if you don’t have immediate access to medicine. Photo by: Maria Alejandra Feature photo: Rowshan Dowlatabadi, All Rights Reserved.

It was 10:30 PM and the only pharmacy in the village was closed. My husband was suffering from heat exhaustion and couldn’t keep any food or liquid down.

I was beginning to worry we would have to find a way to get him to the nearest city for an IV drip. He called his brother, a pharmacist, who recommended a simple re-hydration drink made from common household ingredients: water, salt, and sugar.

The drink worked. My husband stopped vomiting, and by the next morning felt well enough to go hiking.

This episode reminded me of several other useful natural treatments made from ingredients found in households or the corner market in countries all over the world. Although most of them treat ailments that aren’t as serious as dehydration, they have all made my bouts with illness a bit lighter and my travels that much easier.

1. Emergency Re-hydration

If you are in a cosmopolitan city, you can grab a sports drink, but if you are in a tiny village, or an out of the way place, mix 1 teaspoon of salt and 4 to 5 teaspoons of sugar into 1 Liter of purified water. Use in case of vomiting or diarrhea.

Photo by Rowshan Dowlatabadi,
All Rights Reserved.

2. Honey-Lemon cough syrup or soothing tea

My mother used to give us a cup of hot water mixed with a tablespoon of honey and the juice of 1/2 a lemon when we had coughs and sore throats. A cough syrup can be made by omitting the water.

3. Salt water gargle or sinus cleanser

To treat a sinus infection, mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt with 1/2 cup of water (some people add a little baking soda as well). If you don’t have a dropper, you can just pour it into your nostrils (one at a time) and snort it into the sinuses. It’s not comfortable but it works. Salt water can also be used as a gargle to treat a sore throat.

4. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)

Baking soda has many uses. I thought of it recently because I knew it could be used as an antacid (and is often used as an ingredient in commercial antacids). Mix 1/2 teaspoon with 1/2 glass of water.

You can find baking soda in the baking section of markets, often in little single serving packages under names like karbonat or biocarbinato.

You can also look for the chemical formula, NaHCO3.

It is worth keeping some on hand since mixed with water into a paste it can relieve insect bites or bee stings (remove stinger first), or be used as toothpaste in a bind. Pregnant women should not drink baking soda and water.

5. Mint tea

So far I seem to have encountered some form of mint in most of the countries I’ve been to. Boil a handful of leaves in hot water (or use the dried herb). This is a great treatment for an upset stomach as well as a refreshing drink.

All of the above treat fairly mild ailments. Should the problem continue or worsen, one should seek medical attention.

Sometimes, your illness just requires rest, often a difficult thing to achieve as one races from activity to activity and place to place. Remember, rest a day now and recover sooner rather than delay and spend a week in a hospital.

Photo by pauldavidson

Feature photo by brunogirin

When I decided to end my residency in Japan and travel to Thailand to work with a volunteer program, I knew the requirements for securing the proper visa, a non-immigrant type O:

What I failed to understand, however, was just how opposed the Royal Thai Consulate-General of in Japan was to me getting a visa into Thailand.

As an American citizen, I could buy one on arrival for 30 days, but if I chose to stay with the volunteer program for longer, I’d either have to leave and reenter the country or extend my visa with a local immigration office.

This being the less favorable of the two options, I needed to travel from Kagoshima to Osaka (five hours by train, and quite expensive), stay overnight for processing, and return the following day.

I arrived in Osaka and, within twenty minutes of stepping off the train, applied with the consulate. Having presented all documentation, I was told everything was in order, with the exception of the registration document.

I contacted my organization, and had them fax a different registration document to me. The next day, I applied again, only to be told that all the documents were in order, with the exception of the “corrected” registration document, which apparently was not the correct format: the copy my organization had provided was the official notification from the Thai government, but did not contain a statement of purpose.

I later found out such a document never existed.

Photo by liveu4

Lacking the paperwork to even have my application accepted, I returned to Kagoshima and was informed, upon consultation between the Royal Thai Consulate-General Osaka and the manager of my volunteer organization, that it would be in my best interest to forgo the traditional volunteer visa and just apply for a two-month tourist visa.

A few weeks later, I returned to Osaka (again, expensive train fare) and applied for a two-month tourist visa, only to be told that my recommendation letter from a Japanese institute, which had previously been deemed acceptable by the consulate, was now unacceptable for some reason (the reason being a different consulate officer was working that day and had his own ideas of what was necessary).

Upon learning this, the visa section receptionist suggested I again return to Kagoshima and have the document rewritten… at whose expense, I might ask?

Long story short? I applied for the same visa at the Thai consulate in Beijing and had it processed in three days for a lesser price, and with no hassles.

When it comes to Japanese bureaucracy mixed with the paperwork usually associated with government visas, you should always be aware that, regardless of location, you may not get what visa you want on the first attempt.

Or the second. Or the third. There are some consulates and embassies that are rigorous about having you dot every last “i” or leave no ink outside the black boxes. Others might behave differently according to the day, the person working, the weather, your clothes, your breath, the political situation, even a butterfly flapping its wings.

6 Tips for obtaining visas when you’re living abroad.

1. Consult the embassy or consulate website to obtain a list of precisely what you need.

Better yet, find someone who has gone through the procedure – a friend of the same nationality or a detailed blog writeup.

Most foreign embassies and consulates provide English instructions when it comes to visa procedures, but there are some that don’t – if you’re unclear as to what’s required when you walk in that door, you should…

2. Bring every single piece of government-issued paperwork you have on hand.

When you’re dealing with bureaucracy, expect the unexpected. I don’t think you’ll have to send for anything in particular from home, but if you have it with you, bring it: diploma; copy of diploma; passport and copy; alien registration card; travel documents; regulation-size photos; any information you have received about where you’re going and what you’re planning to do.

Photo by electrostatico

3. Consider location a major factor.

Not all of us live in capital cities or even urban areas. Just as I had to pay thousands of Yen in travel expenses, so might you have to commute for hours or even days when applying for a foreign visa.

Although it’s unwise to put off applying for visas until the last possible second, doing so might save you something; if you have to travel to a large city to fly out anyway, you might as well time your visa run for a few days before departure.

Check to see if mail-in applications are accepted, or if a legal representative can present your passport and apply for you.

This includes the physical location of the embassy or consulate, which can be in some obscure areas; the American embassy in Beijing is located just behind the silk market, the Thai consulate on the 15th floor of an office building. They’re not always in plain view or readily accessible.

4. Consider processing time.

Whether you’re in a tight crunch between layovers, or you have plenty of days to locate the embassy and go over what’s needed, be careful. Say you’re planning a flight to Washington DC and have exactly three days to obtain your visa to Vietnam… what if the flight is delayed by 12 hours?

Can you still travel if your application is delayed or rejected? Can you pay extra to have the visa processed on the same working day?

5. Find out if there are other options.

Depending on your nationality and where you’re headed, some countries do not require visas (for example, most people can enter Hong Kong for 30 days without a visa) or will allow you to purchase one when you land.

Not a bad idea, but I can understand if you’re a bit weary about giving out so much personal information online. Services like this will always cost more than you simply doing it in person.

If you’re unwilling to travel 1000 km to the nearest embassy, you might be able to appoint a legal representative to present your passport on your behalf.

This can be a friend whom you’ve given legal authority, or a paid service by a law firm.

6. Use the political muscle of your Senator or Representative.

Have a friend who holds some kind of elected office back home?

Even if not, you can still request a letter of assistance from your US representative. Contact the office of your favorite Congressperson.

An endorsement, or even a letter showing some kind of loose support from someone in office can reduce processing times and open doors.

It’s all about presenting that official government letterhead. Now the emassy isn’t just dealing with you; someone from your government is watching as well.

Community Connection

Interested in getting more information about visas from travelers living in different countries around the world?

Contact them directly and ask about their experiences by searching for travelers in the destinations page at Matador.

Jim Frazier. Photo above by jpmueller99. Mile by mile, trains use 28% less fuel than planes or cars.

If your next flight is short, you might want to consider taking a train instead. Besides cutting out the long lines at security, you can also relax in more spacious cabins, use your cell phone and laptop (many even have power outlets) and avoid ear popping cabin air pressurization.

The US Amtrak system isn’t perfect. There isn’t service to every city in the US, and cross-country trains still remain slow and expensive when compared to flying. However, if you’re hopping across a few states, it can be less expensive and sometimes faster than taking a flight.

Consider a 5 hour train ride from Boston to Philadelphia. The equivalent flight takes over two hours; however, after adding in time spent arriving early plus waiting in baggage claim, you can easily spend close to 5 hours in transit. If you take the train instead, you’ll spend $157. The cheapest flight available is $265. That’s a 43% savings over flying, and you can get an additional 10-15% if you are a student, AAA member, or military.

So why are we spending more for flights that continue to raise prices, add fees for luggage, and remove basic services when there is a cheap and comfortable alternative?

We’ve pulled the prices of 21 low cost train routes that beat their lowest-priced airline competitor. To do this, we’ve used a standard set of dates for a Saturday to Saturday roundtrip ticket (to make it fair) and the prices below are accurate at the time of writing. Your results may vary depending on the date, lead time, and the mood of the airline on any given day.

Trains That Are Cheaper and Faster Than Flying

1. Boston, MA to Portland, ME
Amtrak: $48.
Cheapest Flight: $353.
Total Savings: 86%

2. Montreal, QB to Albany NY
Amtrak: $90.
Cheapest Flight: $447.
Total Savings: 80%

3. New York, NY to Philadelphia, PA
Amtrak: $86.
Cheapest Flight: $362
Total Savings: 76%

4. Seattle, WA to Vancouver, BC
Amtrak: $60.
Cheapest Flight: $248
Total Savings: 76%

Amtrak could get a big boost this year, if Congress passes a bill that will give Amtrak $15 billion to improve and expand train service. Photo above by MR38.

5. New York, NY to Albany, NY
Amtrak: $74.
Cheapest Flight: $268
Total Savings: 72%

6. Los Angeles, CA to San Diego, CA
Amtrak: $68.
Cheapest Flight: $245
Total Savings: 72%

7. Vancouver, BC to Portland, OR
Amtrak: $88.
Cheapest Flight: $298
Total Savings: 70%

8. Seattle, WA to Portland, OR
Amtrak: $56.
Cheapest Flight: $165
Total Savings: 66%

9. Philadelphia, PA to Washington, D.C.
Amtrak: $84.
Cheapest Flight: $182
Total Savings: 54%

10. Chicago, IL to Memphis, TN
Amtrak: $182.
Cheapest Flight: $328
Total Savings: 45%

11. Boston, MA to Philadelphia, PA
Amtrak: $152.
Cheapest Flight: $265
Total Savings: 43%

Amtrak concession stand. Photo: Kafka4Prez

12. Baltimore, MD to New York, NY
Amtrak: $122.
Cheapest Flight: $193
Total Savings: 37%

13. New York, NY to Boston, MA
Amtrak: $118.
Cheapest Flight: $155
Total Savings: 24%

14. Washington, D.C. to New York, NY
Amtrak: $138.
Cheapest Flight: $155
Total Savings: 11%

Cheap Trains, Long Rides

(These fares are cheaper, but will take longer than flying)

1. New Orleans, LA to Memphis, TN
Amtrak: $100.
Cheapest Flight: $411
Total Savings: 76%

2. New York, NY to Montreal, QB
Amtrak: $122
Cheapest Flight: $427
Total Savings: 71%

3. Toronto, ON to New York, NY
Amtrak: $184.
Cheapest Flight: $398
Total Savings: 54%

4. Cinnicinati, OH to New York, NY
Amtrak: $283.
Cheapest Flight: $554
Total Savings: 49%

5. San Francisco, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Amtrak: $96.
Cheapest Flight: $165
Total Savings: 42%

6. Charlotte, NC to New York, NY
Amtrak: $188.
Cheapest Flight: $274
Total Savings: 31%

7. Washington, D.C. to Chicago, IL
Amtrak: $174.
Cheapest Flight: $229
Total Savings: 24%

Other Ways to Save

If you’re booking a flight in under 14 days, you might want to compare the corresponding Amtrak fare, as airlines prices tend to increase sharply as you approach the departure day, while train tickets stay stable.

You can book online with Amtrak.

Be sure to check out the Amtrak Weekly Hot Deals

For 10 – 15% off the standard fare, see if you qualify for a Student and AAA Member Discounts.

Feature photo by Zador Spanish schools Spain. Photo above by Mike Rollinger.

Do your have a worthwhile project or field of study that involves traveling? If so, consider having your travels funded through a grant, fellowship, or travel scholarship.

Begin by contemplating where you want to go and potential projects you could build around those destinations. (Or vice versa.) Always wondered how sustainable agriculture works in Guam? How about local conservation practices in Central America? Once you have a clear vision of a travel / research project, begin looking for funding possibilities that give you the most freedom to pursue your goals.

When applying, take advantage of the resources and support systems you have. Your school, present or past, will have an adviser who can help you navigate the application process.

Writing grant proposals can take a lot of time, but good advice can help focus your efforts. Your school or area may even offer their own scholarship opportunities–talk to your department or your study abroad office.

Finally, even if funding from your school or other org close to home isn’t an option, you’ll find lots of other opportunities out there to fund your travel / project.

Major Grants

These are highly sought-after, competitive post-college grants that offer a full ride for a year or two of graduate study overseas.

Marshall Scholarship fully funds 2-3 years of graduate study in the UK. Open to US students finished with or finishing college.

Rhodes Scholarship funds two years of graduate study at Oxford. Includes full tuition and expenses and living stipend.

Fulbright offers year-long fellowships to American graduating seniors, grad students, young professionals and artists for study abroad or to teach English abroad. Program requirements vary by destination.

Posing at the Louvre. Photo by marshlight.

Watson Fellowship funds one year of independent research. $25,000. Open to graduating seniors from participating, small American colleges.

Program-based funding

These include grants tied to participation in the giver’s program, and can take various forms.

Institute for International Public Policy Fellowships is a five year program with study abroad component to prepare underrepresented minority undergrads for careers in international affairs. Open to US citizens or permanent residents who apply sophomore year.

Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowships multi-year program also for women and members of minorities underrepresented in foreign service. Open to US citizens to apply by Feb. of sophomore year. Foreign service commitment.

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a State Department program supporting study abroad. Up to $5000 offered to enrolled students with financial need.

Rotary Ambassadorial and World Peace Scholarships fund study and language training abroad for undergraduates and masters degrees for graduate students in international studies, peace studies, and conflict resolution to be completed at one of seven Rotary Centers. Ambassadorial grants from $11000 to $24000 depending on duration of study.

Fogarty-Ellison Overseas Fellowships in Global Health and Clinical Research from the NIH funds one year of clinical research training abroad. $25,000 plus $6000 for additional travel and materials expenses. Open to graduate students in health professions.

CIEE Scholarships offers several grants to participants in CIEE’s study abroad programs. Certain grants fund study in particular regions. Essay required upon return. Must demonstrate financial need.

AIFS Scholarships offer a variety of grants covering up to full tuition and airfare for individuals in AIFS programs.

SIT Scholarships fund participation in SIT program. $500 to $5,000. Based on financial need.

Buenos Aires. Photo by Rob Paetz. –Do you have a beneficial project in mind but can’t afford traveling? Find the funds. They’re out there.

Hispanic Study Abroad Scholars reduces costs of Global Semesters programs. Open to students attending member institutions of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.

Institute for International Public Policy Fellowship is a multi-year program of summer institutes and study abroad. Funds up to 1/2 of junior year study abroad tuition. Open to underrepresented minorities.

Regional Grants

These grants are tied to study or travel in specific regions or countries of the globe.

NSEP David L. Boren Scholarship pays for undergraduate students to study in understudied areas of interest to national security. $8000 to $20000 depending on duration of study. Comes with federal government service requirement.

NSEP Boren Fellowship for graduate students. $12000 to $30000 maximum award. Federal service requirement.

Critical Language Scholarships for Intensive Summer Institutes funds study of a list of lesser-studied languages. Covers all program costs. Open to US citizens enrolled in a college or university.

The Killam Fellowships Program fund semester or academic year study in Canada. $5000/semester plus a travel allowance. Open to US or Canadian undergraduates.

George J. Mitchell Scholarship sponsors one year of graduate study at an Irish University. Funded by the US-Ireland Alliance. Includes tuition and stipend. Open to American citizens, ages 18 to 30.

Slovakia, Bratislava. Photo by Rob Paetz.

BUTEX Scholarships offer $1000 for US students accepted to study at a member University of the British Universities TransAtlantic Exchange Association. Simple application due by September 1.

American-Scandinavian Foundation Awards for Study in Scandinavia offer fellowships of up to $23000 and grants of $5000 to fund study or research. Open to college graduates.

DAAD Fellowships from The German Academic Exchange offers a range of study and research grants to undergraduates and graduate students for summer or school-year study in Berlin.

Kress Travel Fellowships in the History of Art funds research in Europe towards dissertation. $3500 to $10,000. Open to American pre-doctoral students in art history

IREX Short Term Travel Grants Program Fellowships for researchers holding graduate degrees for up to eight weeks in Eurasia. Research must be broadly related to policy concerns.

Freeman Awards for Study in Asia supports study in Asia for students demonstrating financial need. $3000-$7000 based on the duration of study. Open to undergraduates with little to no experience in country of travel.

Bridging Scholarships are offered by the Association of Teachers of Japanese , to fund travel and living expenses for academic study in Japan. Grants range from $2500 to $4000.

Monbusho Scholarships available to current and graduated students between 18 and 30. Funded by the Japanese government. Short term exchange program of particular interest to current undergrad and grad students.

Huayu Enrichment Scholarship for Mandarin language study in Taiwan. Stipend of approx US$790/month. Open to overseas students who apply through their local Taiwan representative.

Halide Edip Adıvar Prize For current undergraduates who have not studied Turkey. $1000. Open to American and Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Other funding

Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants towards study abroad. $1000. Open to all students of universities with a Phi Kappa Phi chapter.

NSF: Developing Global Scientists and Engineers offers funds for international research and study to undergrads, grad students and doctoral students in science and engineering fields. Grant

Photo by ptomlins

Feature photo by abmiller99

Ever wanted to try floating 50 tons of steel down a narrow canal?

Summer is the time to hit the waterways of Europe and here is how to do it.

Listen to this short podcast to find out what qualifications you need to put a boat in the water.

ICC training centres in Britain can be found through the Royal Yachting Association.

Testing in a foreign language is difficult, but if you are multilingual you should be able to find a CEVNI/ICC testing centre in a canal near you!

If, like most of us, you can’t afford the rental costs associated with canal boating, gather some ideas for working along the canals of France and the rest of Europe. Why not try finding work on the water by working as a lock-keeper or working on a hotel barge?

This can be a great way to meet new people, hone your language skills and still enjoy the slow, relaxing life of a canal boat.

 

 Canal Boating In Europe: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Enjoy more podcasts by checking out the traveler’s notebook on iTunes.

Ever glanced in exasperation at travel photographs wondering why yours taken of the same landscapes or subjects never turn out as stunning?

Great travel photographs share a few similarities even though their subjects may be as different as a sweeping landscape or a brooding portrait.

“A” for Action

Travel photographs that always work portray some sort of action. It could be a soft glance over a steaming coffee mug or an aggressive rugby match on a muddy pitch. Capturing action in your photographs adds atmosphere that an otherwise straight-on shot cannot.

The same concept can be applied to landscapes. A photograph depicting a lush green meadow can easily transform from boring to interesting if you captured a couple grazing white sheep as well. Including other elements in action into your landscape shots will also add a sense of scale in comparison to their backgrounds.

I could have easily taken a snapshot of the girl walking away, but sooner or later, I knew she’d turn back. Call it the sixth sense, but people subconsciously know when they’re being watched. That’s how some of the more memorable travel portraits are taken.

“B” for Balance

Not “white Balance” which refers to the amounts of red, green and blue (RGB) colors in a photograph, but rather, the process of creating a balanced photo. You’ve probably heard the terms “framing” or “rule of thirds” thrown about in terms of photography.

In a nutshell, it means your travel photograph needs to be symmetrical and aesthetically attractive in the framing of its subjects. Balance can be achieved without putting subjects right in the center of the frame. Using natural frames like arches, doorways or windows can also balance your photographs.

The photo below of two locals taking a break in St. Georges, Bermuda shows how I’ve applied the rule of thirds by shifting them off center to the right side of the photograph.

“C” for Composition

Although “C” alphabetically comes after “B”, composition always comes before balance in travel photography. How you paint a blank canvas or compose a musical piece can be likened to how you compose a photograph. You mentally map out what story you want your photo to tell.

Composition means looking for patterns, textures, angles, vivid colors, placing of your subjects, close-ups, framing, and other visual cues to help tell your story.

I’m using the composition rule of “subject placement” in the photograph below.

At first glance, you will notice the light bulb aligned above his head. As you notice more details, you will see he’s wearing a backpack and is looking towards a plaque on the wall. The story I’m conveying is that he is a traveler in a museum who has been enlightened by what he is reading.

You’ve heard the old cliché, “the devil is in the details.” With travel photography, the strength of the photograph lies in subtle details. Looking for little details that others might otherwise overlook usually completes the story you’re trying to convey with your photograph.

Another composition technique I applied below was looking for “vivid colors” to tell a story. I waited patiently for the Quechua woman below to reach the terracotta-colored wall because I knew her bright blue shirt would pop against the wall once she reached it.

Going back to high school days of art class, we were taught that blue and orange are complementary colors which work well together.

Focus on Photography by Fodor’s explores composition in great detail.

“D” for Depth of Field

In layman’s terms, depth of field means depicting distance between subjects of focus and their backgrounds in your photos. The subject in the foreground is usually sharp and in focus, gradually fading out. According to Cambridge in Color, “Depth of field is the range of distance within the subject that is acceptably sharp.”

The photograph taken in Riga, Latvia illustrates this concept. Fodor’s provides an excellent explanation on controlling depth of field.

“E” for Evocation

The one common trait memorable travel photographs share is that they evoke a sense of time and place without being cliché. Snapping a photo of a monk in front of a wall is exactly what it is – a photo of a monk in front of a wall, but photographing a monk around cultural icons, incorporating shadows, and other angles not only gives you a better photo overall, but can also help viewers get the full story.

At first glance, the picture above depicts a nun walking. But as you look at more details within the picture, you get a full sense of where she is.

She isn’t carrying a bag or other personal effects which suggests she is someplace familiar. The direction and length of her shadow suggests mid to late afternoon, and the Slavic-type text on the walls suggests somewhere in Central or Eastern Europe. So the picture transports you to a monastery or nunnery in Eastern Europe around late afternoon.

—

Always remember that a good travel photograph isn’t one that is technically perfect, but one that instantly transports you there.

Feature photo by acastellano Photo above by Matador Community

Editor’s Introduction - David Miller:

This July 4th we stood on a dock at Green Lake waiting for the fireworks to begin strobing the dark sky above Seattle. Except for the occasional pop of a bottle rocket, it was peaceful there, quiet. Our 9-month old daughter slept in her car-seat. My parents stood nearby holding hands. The water lapped against the dock pilings and nobody said anything.

And yet the experiences we seek as “once in a lifetime,” the ones Josh Lew and other Matador community members have collected here, have a way of transcending time. Whether single events or processes that take weeks, months, or years, these experiences remind us that the world remains a magical place.

50 Things to do Before you Die

1. Set foot on each of the seven continents. Antarctica might be a tough one, but once you’ve reached all seven you can truly call yourself a world traveler.

2. Cross a country on a bicycle. A bicycle tour takes some planning, but it beats being separated from a country though a passenger-side window.

3. Ride something bigger than a horse. Trekking through the jungle on the back of a two story tall elephant will surely be something you remember forever.

Photo by Ben Ditto

4. Live like a local for a month. The experience of visiting native peoples will give you way more insight into another way of life than two years hopping from one backpacker ghetto to the next.

5. Visit a “real” blues bar in Chicago. What better way to leave music’s commercialism behind and find the soul of the blues?

6. Learn another language. This is definitely a weighty and time-consuming proposition, but there are plenty of resources out there to ease the process.

7. Go heli-skiing. The access to snow and terrain via heli is different (read: better) that anything else you’ll ever experience.

8. Travel India by train. With its extensive rail network, this mode of transport is the best way to see one of the world’s most colorful and diverse countries.

9. Climb one of the world’s Seven Summits. Climbing mountains is not for the faint-hearted, but everyone has had a dream of standing atop one.

10. Dive with a whale shark. Swimming with these gentle giants is among the most powerful wilderness experiences in the world.

11. Participate in a Carnival parade in Brazil. You haven’t had a good night out until you’ve been to the biggest party in a nation of big parties.

12. Dance Tango in Argentina.

13. Surf. It’s not about being a ripper but just catching waves.

14. SCUBA in the Great Barrier Reef. The largest coral reef in the world is a must for dive enthusiasts. It is the world’s most unique aquatic environment.

15. Publish an article about your travels. Part of traveling is sharing your experiences with others. Plus, getting published might be easier than you think.

Photo by Creative Corners

16. Volunteer abroad for a month.

17. Follow in the footsteps of your favorite travel book. What better guide than a book that inspired you to travel in the first place?

18. Take a bush plane ride into Africa’s interior. These lightly visited regions are filled with unique cultures and diverse wildlife.

19. Cross a glacier on foot. Traversing these fast-disappearing natural wonders is an adventure that future generations might not be able to experience.

20. Visit the source of one of the world’s great rivers. Great rivers, like the Nile, have humble beginnings.

21. Climb an active volcano.

22. Buy a boat and learn to sail. Before the Brothers Wright, everyone traveled by wind power. It’s still the most sustainable way to travel there is.

23. Follow your food from field to table. Most people in the world still eat what they have picked with their own hands. Why not get back to these basics?

24. Bathe in the Ganges. What better way to experience the spiritual heart of India?

25. Travel around the world. Sure, you could do this without ever setting foot outside of planes and airports, but few people ever truly traverse the entire globe. Round the world tickets are great for budget-minded wanderers.

Photo by James Dorsey

26. Photograph an endangered species. Aside from an image you can keep for a lifetime, it will remind you, and others, how fragile life can be.

27. Participate in Burning Man . As they say: “Trying to explain Burning Man to someone who has never been is like trying to explain color to a blind person.”

28. Spend 24 hours alone in the jungle.

29. Learn how to make a national dish. What is the one and only thing that everyone has in common? Eating.

30. Teach English in a foreign country. Sure, it’s a way to fund your travels, but also the experience of a lifetime.

31. Attend a music festival in another country.

32. Cross a country using only public transportation. See a country the way most of its people do: from the window of a bus, train, or ferry.

33. Spend the night in a storied/historic hotel. You might not even have to leave town to experience a night of classic atmosphere.

34. Attend the Olympics. Whatever you say about the commercialism of the Olympic Games, they are one of the biggest events on the planet.

35. Meet your favorite (living) travel writer. They’ve inspired you; now thank them for it.

36. Travel to Germany to experience Love Parade. It’s one of the biggest festivals, attendance-wise, on the planet.

Photo by astropixie

37. Partake in a Japanese Tea Ceremony. This timeless tradition is at the heart of Japanese culture.

38. Join a caravan in the Sahara. See how people can thrive in one of the world’s harshest environments.

39. Go to Oktoberfest. The meeting of over 6 million beer afficionados and drinking song singers is one of the biggest parties in Europe.

40. Stand at the North or South Pole.

41. Be in the stands when two rival South American club teams play each other in soccer. Soccer (sorry, football) is a passion for most of the world’s population.

42. Visit the birthplace or gravesite of a cultural icon. Could be Che Guevara or Picasso or Levi Strauss or the guy who invented widgets; anyone you think is important.

43. Find your version of “The Beach.” One of the best travel books ever inspired a generation of backpackers. Why not find your own version of untouched paradise?

44. Enjoy a freshly rolled cigar in Cuba. Taste a hand rolled specialty close to its source.

45. Visit every capital city in Europe. The crowded continent is full of beautiful architecture and diverse cultures.

46. Watch an orchestral performance in Vienna.

Photo by Nickmunstr

47. Skydive. It is the ultimate thrill, unless you add a wingsuit, and actually fly.

48. Bike the Pacific Coast Highway.

49. Shake hands with someone who has truly changed a country.

50. Participate in the world’s biggest water fight during Thailand’s New Year’s festivities (Songkran).

All Photos by Trey Ratcliff

Over the last two years Craig Martin has spent countless hours on European trains: he knows his way around. If you’re exploring a sizable chunk of Europe, then a Eurail pass can help ease your organisational hassles and save you a bit of cash.

In this podcast Craig outlines ten tips for Eurail journeys encompassing choosing and buying a pass (visit: railpass.com), plus utilizing it and being aware of discounts and extra charges.

Click below to play.

 

 Top 10 Eurail Tips: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

As you listen, read up on Craig’s companion guide to the 10 European Cities to Stretch Your Dollar this Summer.

Enjoy more travel photography episodes and other podcasts by checking out the traveler’s notebook on iTunes.

Photo by Rob Paetz

Whether or not it’s going to help the American economy, most of us are getting $600 in the mail from the US government. It’s time for a splurge!

But wait; let’s make that $600 count with trips and/or purchases that we’ll have for years or remember forever.

Below are the coolest things we could possibly think of with a $600 price tag.

1. Fly to NYC for the weekend in July!

Flight into JFK: $319 (From SFO, on Virgin America via Kayak.com as of 7/1/08). Don’t waste $80/night on a hotel– couchsurf or stay with friends.

Spending Cash: $245

2. Get a D-SLR Camera

Canon EOS Digital Rebel:

The EOS Digital Rebel XT camera takes its place alongside the original 6.3-megapixel EOS Digital Rebel camera that first placed an affordable, high-resolution digital SLR into the hands of Canon consumers.

The EOS Digital Rebel XT model is offered in two kit configurations: with Canon’s high-quality EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-f5.6 zoom lens (in matte black and in brushed silver) and as a body only.

$449.95 BUY

The Zoom pack includes a case for your new D-SLR, two extra batteries and all the cleaning accessories you need to take care of your baby.

Cannon Zoom Pack: $45

3. Weekend in Playa del Carmen (Couples)

Flight to Cancun: $319 per person (from JFK, on JetBlue as of 7/1/08)

Hotel: Shangri-la al Caribe (3 nights for about $600 for a private palapa on the beach, including dinner and breakfast) Check www.shangrilacaribe.net/.

4. Party People Start Planning: You’re Going to Burning Man 2008!

Photo by Lucia Stewart

The dates are from Monday, August 25th - Monday, September 1.Tickets are $295. That leaves you $305 for gas to get to Black Rock City, UT and supplies.

To survive, participate, and generally have a blast at Burning Man 2008, check out our guide, here.

5. Guided Fly Fishing Trip in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Epic snowpack has kept rivers juiced all spring and summer. Now water levels are settling into optimal conditions for fishing. If you haven’t been to Jackson yet, now is a great time to go.

Check: http://reeldealanglers.com/

6. Marin Alpine 29er Hardtail Trail Bike

This is a pretty badass mountain bike for under $600. Rock Shox Dart 3 suspension fork, with preload, rebound and turnkey lockout gives you 100mm of travel to meet the demands of your ride. 6061 aluminum frame features organically shaped, custom butted E3 tubesets to provide maximum rigidity while maintaining lightweight responsiveness.

$533 BUY

7. Amazon Kindle

The new Amazon Kindle is the iPod of books. Thanks to electronic paper, a revolutionary new display technology, reading Kindle’s screen is as sharp and natural as reading ink on paper—and nothing like the strain and glare of a computer screen. Kindle is also easy on the fingertips.

It never becomes hot and is designed for ambidextrous use so both “lefties” and “righties” can read comfortably at any angle for long periods of time.

Kindle’s paperback size and expandable memory let you travel light with your library. With the freedom to download what you want, when you want, this is a pretty powerful travel companion.

$399 BUY

8. Arc’teryx Beta AR Jacket - Men’s

Arc’teryx created the Men’s Beta AR Jacket for mountaineers, skiers, and adventurers who want the performance of Gore-Tex Pro and top-notch durability without a laundry list of unneeded features. I own this jacket and I can tell you it’s the single best piece of outdoor clothing I have. From islands to rivers to alpine environments, it will keep you and anything attached to you bone dry, yet it’s super lightweight and durable.

$399 BUY

9. Canon Vixia HF100 Digital Camcorder

With the super-lightweight and compact Canon VIXIA HF100, you can have AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) format recording with the ease and numerous benefits of Flash Memory.

The VIXIA HF100 Canon has exclusive features such as a 3.3 Megapixel Full HD CMOS sensor and advanced DIGIC DV II Image Processor, SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization, Instant Auto Focus, our 2.7-inch Widescreen Multi-Angle Vivid LCD and the Genuine Canon 12x HD video zoom lens plus you have a Flash Memory camcorder that’s hard to beat.

$689 BUY

10. Volunteer Abroad!

Finally, consider using your stimulus package to help you get to another country where you can volunteer at one of the dozens of programs you’ll find here at Matador.

Many of these programs will help you travel for free (i.e. pay for food, lodging, and local transport) once you arrive. Check our guide to traveling for free through several outstanding volunteer programs.