Welcome to the Blog Project! Every week, a group of you will be responsible for locating and posting the link to a blog or website for the class to discuss here. The site should relate in some way to our course theme. On your week, you will post the title and URL of the site you've found, like so:
Travel Blog
http://www.travelblog.org
Easy, right? The facilitating group must post the site no later than Monday night, so that the rest of the class has a whole week to check it out and respond. We might sometimes use class time on Tuesday for this, but for the most part, you will be making your contributions on your own time.
The project officially starts next week, but I thought I'd give everyone a chance to try it out with a blog I selected. Check it out, and share your observations in the comments.
I like to look at pictures of places to help me see what type of travel location I am presented with. When I went to this sight I automatically clicked on the "travel photos" link. The thing I like most about these photos is that they are not your normal travel sights. When I think of a normal travel sight I think of a crowded beach with a lot of comotion and these photos are not like that. I like how they are pictures of the people, animals, and other things rather than beaches and things a person can do at a beach. I feel that they are more exotic than normal places and are places that I would like to visit someday.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading a few of the blog posts on the website, I can see that they all basically talk about the same things. Things being their trips, what they want to do, and what they have done on the trip. There are blogs posted by people that are traveling to all corners of the world. Some of the trips are only a week long, while others are 6 months long. This blog would be a great place to get some true first hand accounts of cool things to do when traveling around the world. People post pictures straight from their cameras, which allows you to get a true feel for a place instead of looking at dressed up, generic, pictures that we usually find in tourist ads. If you wanted to find out about a place that you wish to travel to, this website probably has someone that has been there, and they will probably be able to give you some true, personal experiences.
ReplyDeleteI read the blog "that sinking feeling". I liked the bloggers honsesty for he points out both good and bad, the smelling sewers being some of the bad and the amazing veiws and intresting culture the good. I also like how at the end the blogger points out that sometimes its not about doing as manythings as can when visiting a place but instead just taking in what you are seeing and appreciating the place for what it is.
ReplyDeleteI like to look at pictures and videos of where I would like to travel also. I like looking at the different animals because I enjoy hunting and seeing different species of animals. Also, I would enjoy traveling to a place that has different customs. Going to a place that is totally different than what I'm used to seems fun.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this blog does in fact provide a service to its readers. On the Travel Blog they have easy to use links that allow you to search for a specific country or region. This allows for easy access to background information and key facts to the reader. It provides a service to its readers also by hosting the narrative blogs that show further insight on a specific region or country. The blog points out some aspects about the region that could be of interest to travelers, and therefore is a useful resource to potential travelers or vacationers. However, I believe that this blog in no way could replace a travel agent, it only could provide a place to get ideas for the potential traveler.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading the stories people had to talk about. The stories about people's trips were very interesting. One woman talked about her mother's trip, back to where she grew up, for a class reunion. I loved being able to see the pictures, read the stories of what they did when they were children. Another story I found interesting was one about a man's trip to Swaziland, Africa. This site is intersting because it allows you to read other people's first hand experiences when visiting these places. It is a much more interesting take on a travel website since it's not just someone trying to persuade you to go there.
ReplyDeleteI find that the humor of the blogs to be really interesting. I also read the blog titled "That Sinking Feeling" and I thought it was quite funny. The story of how he woke up on the train to find that dust was collected everywhere really brought me into the situation. I could also really feel his frustration about 5am. It really is a rubbish time. The way the blog was structured let me learn about a place and culture, without being bored. I really gathered that humor is a key to presenting something in a new and interesting way.
ReplyDeleteI particularly like the blog post about Jeti-Oguz National Park in Kyrgyzstan. The pictures show breath taking views where one is able to escape from the daily routine and hectic lifestyle that we all live. I can see myself there and in those pictures relaxing, doing some hiking and enjoying life. Reading the entry lets you see that these people were not just out camping but were with a group and it makes me want to be part of a similar group that gets to travel around the world and connect with nature.
ReplyDeleteI like that the pictures show more than just the land. I would also expect the pictures to be just of a beach or mountains, but since the blog shows pictures of the people and what they are wearing I get a better understanding of the location. Not only do I know what the place looks like, but I also know what kinds of people live there. I also notice that some of the people are in formal attire, like in Thailand and the Aperitif. From seeing this it makes me think that those places are good for weddings and formal events, probably because there is a lot to do there and the enviroment is relaxing and pretty.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to visit South America. But, the news and other media outlets often portray the continent to be dangerous and sometimes disgusting. So when I read Australian tourist Nix46's posts on this travel blog I was relieved. Nix46 visited Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Puerto Varas, and several other cities in South America and described them all to be lovely, safe, fun, and welcoming. The blogs depict endless days and nights of delicious food, dancing at clubs, and the best shopping. And when the time arrived for Nix46 to return to Australia, she conveyed how sad she was to leave the beautiful South America in her final post. Despite all the negativity that's been out in the open for everyone to know about South America, I don't fear this place and I would be thrilled to go thanks to Nix46's online insight.
ReplyDeleteA post that caught my attention on this blog was the following:
ReplyDeleteTips and Hints
• Exchange rates mean that America can be expensive for travelers visiting from other countries. Make sure to bring extra cash, especially for spending in the big cities.
• Travel Insurance The US has some of the best health care in the world but it's also extremely expensive. Travel insurance is a must.
• Tipping is customary in restaurants and is not included in the bill. Adding on a tip of 15-20% is standard.
• Accommodation Although not as common as hotels or motels, there are youth hostels in The States.
I found the highlighted tip particularly interesting. I have never even heard of a youth hostel and I live here! I think it is interesting how a person could live in a country and not know things that it offers such as the hostel mentioned. When I think of hostels I picture foreign countries that are remote and secluded. It is eye opening to see that blogs such as this one offers this information at a click of a button. When reading some of the blogs that followed this link I saw that I was not the only person blown away with this revelation. Most of them stated that they were going to go and find out what else our country offers so they could take advantage of the things hear. I am inclined to agree and I will also be seeing what the United States has besides Las Vegas and the Hollywood.
The stories told by these bloggers are both entertaining and informative. They give you a taste of what they experienced, while informing readers about possible travel problems that come from the area and culture. Add in the pictures that are posted and it really makes me want to travel to some of these places.
ReplyDeletethe website is clear and easy to find something you are interested. and they post the beginning of the article, not so long, shows one big picture and several small ones, this give the reader a basic introduction of the travelling place. i click the "Great Barrier Reefer Madness". because the turtle in pictures is amazing. and i feel this website is a real intersting one, they do not show normal travel pictures where we can find everywhere on website. they shows a lot of fresh things that normal place does not have, like very special festival in some far-away place where people do not go, or some little but interesting animals we do not see in our own place. I personly love it.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the blog "200" where the couple traveled from Europe to spend 200 days traveling around Thailand. I like that they talked about both typical tourist sites, and just about absorbing what the country had to offer rather than constantly searching for what they believe they are meant to see. Since they were traveling for such an extended time, they seemed to get used to life, culture, and the people there. I think this perspective is unique because not all travelers are looking to experience the typical tourist sites. Even if you're not traveling for the duration of 200 days or more, experiencing a country or a place for what it is can be possible during a short trip or vacation. this blog is cool because it offers that kind of information and first hand opinions which might be difficult to find on most traveling sites.
ReplyDeleteI found the travel guide most beneficial to me, being that I would be a beginner at traveling. It really shows all the necessary steps for a successful trip and it has links to walk you thru and give you information about what to do and how to do it. If I ever go on a trip I would reccomend the travel guide.
ReplyDeleteThis website was a great way to find valuable information. It is easy to use and find information! It has pictures that could assist you in looking for a travel destination or if you just want to see pictures from around the world and from other people's experiences. It also has blogs where people give their opinions and descriptions of how their traveling experiences went. This could really help sway someone into picking a destination because of the descriptions and pictures those people captured when they was traveling.
ReplyDeleteThis blog is extremely organized. The site is easily navigated and well-run with a whole selection of useful tools and information. The interface is very fluid and intuitive and makes it easy to find the data you are looking for. For example, by simply clicking on the map at the home page you are redirected to a list of information about the area of the map you clicked on. What also struck me about this site is its variety of information and how it displays and relays it to the user. Giving you everything from written reviews and photos to quick links on hotels and transportation, this travelers blog has it all for all the types of travelers.
ReplyDeleteI love to view photos of different sites and try to form a first impression of those places. These photos are great for people who travel a tremendous amount. I agree with Alex, on the fact that most of the people seem to be talking of what they did on the trip and what they would like to do. They give insight on what they have done, and if they liked it or not. It's good to see different opinions. Another person that may have experienced something you want to do could let you know if it is good or not. I feel the blog's purpose is to give insight on different places, and it is successful at it.
ReplyDeleteWhile a lot of the blogs seem to be about the same topics – people traveling for however long – there are a few differences that I like. For example, some of these people honestly have no idea where they're going or what they're going to do. Others have everything planned out hour by hour, and stick to their schedule. Some people are going home, and for them, that is a trip. Some people are going somewhere that they know absolutely nothing about. Some of the posts are a bit more personal, some include advice for fellow travelers. Though all of the blogs cover locations that the writers are going through, there still appears to be variety. The purpose of the blog seems a bit more for entertainment, as many people include anecdotes from their trips. I'm not entirely sure how this would prove to be helpful to readers who are searching for something academic, aside from inspiring a vacation spot, but it makes the website a bit more of a resource for what I imagine to be a target audience of travelers. What do you expect when you go into a Chinese fish market? Where are the best places to get pictures of a certain thing?
ReplyDeleteEntering the world of blogging is extremely interesting. It's a place where people have more valuable things to say than those on sites like facebook or twitter. A lot of the blogs I read consisted of the same information. Updates like where the individuals are located any obstacles they encountered on the way and what their next move was. Most blog entries were very optimistic and positive. It's like they really are excited to be fufilling their traveling goals and have no room to complain even when situations dont always work out. I did however read one sardonic entry from a woman who visited Antarctica. She expressed that humans dont appreciate our land enough which will result in our demise. So there is definetly a variety of topics and viewpoints, but that only adds to the diversity you can find on sites like these.
ReplyDeleteThis is really a great collection of travelling blogs. Every blogger shares their travel photos, their interesting experiences, and their own feelings during the trip. Someone got to the North Pole to see the penguins. Someone got to the equator to experience the mysterious African culture. Someone travelled on land, someone just had the journey on the sea. For a person, it is really hard to travel that lot. Because of the work and the family, he or she cannot have such a long time and relaxed mood to go out. So this website does give people a great chance to know the outside world. People don’t need to go everywhere, they still can get a lot of information about the other places, and still can see the fantastic views of other countries. In addition, I saw a lot of photos which show the old images on this website, an old ship, an anchor winch, even though a shabby cook house. All these photos have the pale yellow tone. They are really able to evoke people’s feelings, let people remember past things. For me, after seeing the picture of that cook house, I thought of my childhood, and how innocent I was during that time. Overall, this travel blog is a convenient way for people to know the outside world, at the same time, it is a fortune which can let people remember how valuable the past lives are.
ReplyDeleteI found this website to be very interesting. You are able to give your experiences about a particular place(s) and could inspire someone to travel there or to start traveling in general. They are able to connect with people who share their same passion, give advice, and put their feelings out about their trips. It is a social network for travelers. I like the whole idea.
ReplyDeleteI found this blog to be most helpful in that it was a fellow traveler's first-hand experiences and not just something out of a travel brochure. It gave more realistic expectations for the trips and I feel if I were to plan a trip based upon what I have read from the site I would be better prepared in knowing what to expect. I feel this would allow me to better maximize my experience.
ReplyDelete