InsideOut Travel—Briefs and Tips

It's been quite the year in travel; although much of the travel industry is in recovery, the year ended on a very sad note. But, if you want to help out in Sri Lanka, i-to-i is offering a donate and volunteer program. Recent events make the Backpack Nation call for enties especially relevant. If travel can bring out the best in people, it can also bring out the worst. Read about the most infamous travel tales and have a good laugh.

Globe and Mail Travel Hall of Infamy Awards
From tales of rude hotel managers to sexy mass e-mails sent by mistake, Douglas McArthur announces the 2004 Travel Hall of Infamy Awards and shares some hilarious travel tales. The best is probably the drunken flight crew that refused to serve passengers. Registration is required (14-day free trial) after the first page of the article.

“Sky Burial” by Xinran
For vicarious travel through Tibet, nothing beats following an unassuming heroine like Shu Wen, a young doctor who joined the Chinese army in 1958 to search for her husband.

Full of “I-could-never-do-that” moments, Xinran’s narrative of Wen’s life is engrossing, as her trip turns into a thirty-year journey. In a simple narrative style, we see the quietly strong-willed Wen adapt to Tibetan culture and customs until she finally learns the truth about her husband’s death.

Somewhat unsatisfyingly, the story isn’t finished: Wen disappeared after spending two days telling her story to Xinran in 1994, and the book ends with an appeal for contact.

For me, it was an appeal to discover Tibet for myself. “Sky Burial” was released in the UK in 2004 and will be released in the US in July 2005. The paperback release in the UK is also scheduled for July 2005. —Amanda Kendle.

Minimum Size, Maximum Convenience
That’s the motto of newly-launched website Minimus.biz, an online store that offers individual-size products. Travelers always worried about lugging too much stuff will like the convenience of buying just what they need; and for people away from home, there’s nothing like getting a care package full of your favorite products from home.

Check out www.minimus.biz.

Shop Around the World
There are plenty of guidebooks to choose from these days and knowing what you’ll do on vacation will help decide which one is best for you. For all the world shoppers out there, “The Treasures and Pleasures of Thailand and Myanmar,” and “The Treasures and Pleasures of Mexico” from Impact Guides are definite must-haves if you’re planning a trip to these areas.
The authors, Ron and Caryl Krannich, travel the globe in search of the best souvenirs from faraway destinations. Although budget travelers may find the hotel recommendations a little pricey, these guides are packed full of tips on shopping rules, pricing practices and bargaining ethics anyone can use. Readers will also find useful lists of the best places to shop for particular items.

Tsunami-Relief Volunteer with i-to-i
i-to-i has created two-week-programs to start mid-January for individuals interested in volunteering in Sri Lanka.

Volunteers will help with construction work, as well as food and water distribution. They will provide assistance with hygiene and healthcare and general support to the local people.

Participants are being asked to contribute $895 for two weeks “which includes a $200 donation toward building materials and the cost of other essentials, as well as covers volunteer meals, accommodation, and a comprehensive medical and travel insurance policy. The above donations will be made to a specific tsunami relief fund established under the Helping Hand Foundation, i-to-i’s registered charitable fund.”

For more information, visit www.i-to-i.com.

You Have a Story to Tell?
Brad Newsham, author of “Take me with you” is looking for submissions.

"My intention with Backpack Nation in general, and with Phase Three in particular, is to promote the kinder, gentler side of life, the spirit of generosity and sharing that underlies and permeates the human experience but gets short-changed by the media. Specifically, I want to promote the phenomenon of Western travelers reaching out to share ourselves and our wealth with people in the poorer countries,” he says.

With the creation of Backpacknation.org, Newsham has raised thousands of dollars, which includes the money he’s made from travel writing, to help people in need throughout the world. more>>

Newsham also has some great travel photos; Afghanistan circa 1974 and a trip across the US in a taxicab (the meter topped out at over $20k) with a friend he met abroad. more>>

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	It's been quite the year in travel; although much of the travel industry is in recovery, the year ended on a very sad note. But, if you want to help out in Sri Lanka, i-to-i is offering a donate and volunteer program. Recent events make the Backpack Nation call for enties especially relevant. If travel can bring out the best in people, it can also bring out the worst. Read about the most infamous travel tales and have a good laugh. Globe and Mail Travel Hall of Infamy Awards From tales of rude hotel managers to sexy mass e-mails sent by mistake, Douglas McArthur announces the 2004 Travel Hall of Infamy Awards and shares some hilarious travel tales. The best is probably the drunken flight crew that refused to serve passengers. Registration is required (14-day free trial) after the first page of the article. “Sky Burial” by Xinran For vicarious travel through Tibet, nothing beats following an unassuming heroine like Shu Wen, a young doctor who joined the Chinese army in 1958 to search for her husband. Full of “I-could-never-do-that” moments, Xinran’s narrative of Wen’s life is engrossing, as her trip turns into a thirty-year journey. In a simple narrative style, we see the quietly strong-willed Wen adapt to Tibetan culture and customs until she finally learns the truth about her husband’s death. Somewhat unsatisfyingly, the story isn’t finished: Wen disappeared after spending two days telling her story to Xinran in 1994, and the book ends with an appeal for contact. For me, it was an appeal to discover Tibet for myself. “Sky Burial” was released in the UK in 2004 and will be released in the US in July 2005. The paperback release in the UK is also scheduled for July 2005. —Amanda Kendle. Minimum Size, Maximum Convenience That’s the motto of newly-launched website Minimus.biz, an online store that offers individual-size products. Travelers always worried about lugging too much stuff will like the convenience of buying just what they need; and for people away from home, there’s nothing like getting a care package full of your favorite products from home. Check out www.minimus.biz. Shop Around the World There are plenty of guidebooks to choose from these days and knowing what you’ll do on vacation will help decide which one is best for you. For all the world shoppers out there, “The Treasures and Pleasures of Thailand and Myanmar,” and “The Treasures and Pleasures of Mexico” from Impact Guides are definite must-haves if you’re planning a trip to these areas. The authors, Ron and Caryl Krannich, travel the globe in search of the best souvenirs from faraway destinations. Although budget travelers may find the hotel recommendations a little pricey, these guides are packed full of tips on shopping rules, pricing practices and bargaining ethics anyone can use. Readers will also find useful lists of the best places to shop for particular items.				Tsunami-Relief Volunteer with i-to-i i-to-i has created two-week-programs to start mid-January for individuals interested in volunteering in Sri Lanka. Volunteers will help with construction work, as well as food and water distribution. They will provide assistance with hygiene and healthcare and general support to the local people. Participants are being asked to contribute $895 for two weeks “which includes a $200 donation toward building materials and the cost of other essentials, as well as covers volunteer meals, accommodation, and a comprehensive medical and travel insurance policy. The above donations will be made to a specific tsunami relief fund established under the Helping Hand Foundation, i-to-i’s registered charitable fund.” For more information, visit www.i-to-i.com. You Have a Story to Tell? Brad Newsham, author of “Take me with you” is looking for submissions. "My intention with Backpack Nation in general, and with Phase Three in particular, is to promote the kinder, gentler side of life, the spirit of generosity and sharing that underlies and permeates the human experience but gets short-changed by the media. Specifically, I want to promote the phenomenon of Western travelers reaching out to share ourselves and our wealth with people in the poorer countries,” he says. With the creation of Backpacknation.org, Newsham has raised thousands of dollars, which includes the money he’s made from travel writing, to help people in need throughout the world. more>> Newsham also has some great travel photos; Afghanistan circa 1974 and a trip across the US in a taxicab (the meter topped out at over $20k) with a friend he met abroad. more>> Send us the vaguest outline of any newsworthy tidbit you've heard or the link to a story (we'll include your name if we use it), to: editor@insideoutmag.com You can also send news items or press releases the address below: InsideOut Travel 815 Page St. #4 San Francisco, CA 94117 << home
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