A simple dinner can be a wonderful ‘event’ to capture in your Travel Journal.
Capturing Events in Your Travel Journal
Our travel experiences are often filled with lots of ‘event’ experiences - some of them big events (major concerts) and some of them small events (birthday party). In fact, I’m a pretty firm believer that everything in our lives can be translated into an event. So let’s take a brief look at how you can capture events in your Travel Journal.
This was the ‘critter’ sitting next to us on our final evening dinner in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. Yes, it was memorable!
As you move through your travels, look ahead and begin to list out some of the things that you have planned. Perhaps use a calendar to give a framework to your list and you’ll be able to see what is happening and when.
As you contemplate your list of big and small events, begin to think ahead-of-time about how you might characterize the event. There will be so many things that you could write about, but I’ll get you started by suggesting some of the following things to keep in mind:
When did the event begin/end
Where was the event held
Who was there
What food and beverage was provided (and how was it)
Was there entertainment - what was it, how good was it, etc
What other guests attended - did your travel companions attend and what did they think
Did anything unusual happen - someone proposed marriage, staff dropped a tray of full drinksetc
Most memorable thing that happened
Best/worst thing about the event
Was the event what you expected
Cost(s) - any surprises
Would you do it again or recommend it
You’re beginning to see, I think, that the kinds of entries you could make is pretty broad.
A day trip to see how adobe brinks and tiles are made.
For the most part, when the event is over and you’re back at your accommodations and sitting having a morning coffee….ask yourself, ‘How would I characterize the event?’
Images from a tour of the Botanical Gardens in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Think about how you would describe it to your colleagues at work - and perhaps how differently you would describe it to your parents. I’m guessing that they would be two different descriptions - and this is exactly where some of your humour might sneak in to your writing……and how fun would that be! Either way, asking these questions will help you start to craft your wonderful descriptive entries.
A quick watercolour sketch of a Palm Tree from that Botanical Garden tour.
Now, don’t feel that you have to write a long story about the event. It is every bit as valid in a Travel Journal to make your entries in point-form. If you want to write more of a story later, then you’ll have all the ‘pieces’ you need in your point-form format.
Again, remember to use all of your senses when you’re building the event descriptions in your Travel Journal. The sights and sounds and aromas and more - all of these will make for much clearer memories in the future when you revisit the event.
And finally, remember that keeping a Travel Journal isn’t supposed to be a job….so relax and I think you’ll quickly find that you get better and better with every single Travel Journal you keep.
Inshore fishing trip north of Zihuatanejo, Mexico.
When that fishing trip was done….this was the tasty result!
To help with the challenge of ‘what to include’ in your Travel Journal, I’ve attached a link to a PDF that I’ve put together to help you build that framework and get you going. Years from now, you’ll never regret having kept a Travel Journal, and your descriptions will be so much richer if you pay attention to your 5 (and 6th) senses.
Email me to let me know how I can help you get going on setting up your very own Travel Journal. Tell me what your biggest barriers are, and I’ll help you overcome them.
Go ahead and click this link to download you framework on Travel Journal ‘content’!
https://www.newtraveljournal.com/50-best-Travel-Journal-Prompts