The Triptastic 10: Recommended Reading Right Now

Every day, I read many great posts from the travel “blogosphere.” Certain ones, however, really catch my eye.

Usually, it’s because they’re off the beaten path/quirky, intelligent/thought-provoking or simply really well-done (well-written, amazing photos, great tips, etc.). Or maybe they’re ‘sleeper posts,’ those yet to be recognized/appreciated.

These  posts are what I call “Triptastic”–fantastic from a traveler’s perspective. They deserve more than a mere “tweet” or basic comment. They’re meant to receive some extra praise and to be shared with others.

Note: Although my favorite pick is at the top of the list, the others are in a random order and not intended to be a ranking.

My “Triptastic” Picks

Facing Gorillas in Rwanda (my #1 pick)

Not sure when you’ll be able to take a gorilla tour in Rwanda? Not to worry. You can go there right now–with Chloe of Backpacking Journalist! She takes you into the heart of the jungle as she shares her highly intense 1-hour encounter with the gorillas. The descriptions are fantastic (even the size of the poo helps give a sense of perspective.) Warning: your heart may beat a little faster and your spine may tingle…

photo © 2007 Duncan McKinnon | more info (via: Wylio)

Our Brush with Death in the Land of Dr. Seuss Trees

Speaking of animals (in this case, reptiles) and heart-pounding adventure, here’s a post from Ordinary Traveler that you should read. Ever have a snake block your path? I have. How about a rattle snake?  This traveling couple has! And it happened right in the United States. In the Mojave Desert. Read about their encounter/adventure with a snake and how they handled it.

Unplugged Travel

I enjoy outdoor activities and love the Jordanian Bedouin and wish I’d made it to the Dana Biosphere Reserve, which offers both experiences. Sherry of Otts World spent time there did so and with no electricity; hence, the post’s name:  ’Unplugged Travel.’  This means she was cut off from technology and truly in the moment. My kind of experience, for sure. She hiked, had that magical Bedouin tea I adore, met local children and read to them in English. Gotta love that!

Madagascar Mayhem–Surviving 24 hrs of Complete Adventure and Chaos

For me, this was like a mini nightmare come true. Not the first part per se (although having to run through and from fire does sound a bit intense), but the second part–the accident that occurred the next day. When you use super cheap transportation, as many of us do, you can’t help but worry just a tiny bit that something could go wrong. For Jason of DigiDrift, a lot went wrong. A fire and an accident in 24 hours. Jason tells the story in great deal and shares video that was shot during much of the action. A must-read (but not a must-experience).

Sleeping on a Bed of Straw in Switzerland (and the story of a big pizza)

In Jerusalem last summer, I met a couple who slept under an olive tree to save money. I’ve never met people who slept on straw in a barn with the smell of manure wafting through the air. Jack and Jill did this…in Switzerland! To me, that’s off-the beaten-path fun and I like it! The best part? They’d do it again!

The Worst Place I’ve Ever Stayed Twice

The name is intriguing, isn’t it? Why would you stay at a crappy place…twice? Read this and you’ll get it (as I did).  Johhny V (aka, Wes N), a fantastic traveler and writer, weaves a mini tale here that takes you to an authentic $7-a-night place called the Vishnu. This post is like a page right out of one of my favorite books, Shantaram! Be forewarned, though; Wes really tells it like it is!

A Battle to the Death with the Syrian Bathroom Scale Men

This has been an intense list of picks, hasn’t it? Time to lighten the mood with a post that made me smile and laugh. In Syria, there are men with scales hanging out on the street making money by…weighing you. I love the way the writer, Kent (Dromomaniac), leads you through a dialogue with one of the ‘scale men.’ It’s fun/funny and sure to make you LOL at least once.

Photography Tips: An SLR Primer

This is something that falls into my “truly useful tips” category. Laurence explains SLRs really well. I thought I knew a lot, but I soon realized that I didn’t. I ended up learning even more. The best part? His post is easy to understand and contains the visuals you need to ‘get it.’ I appreciate the time he spent on it. Definitely didn’t whip this together in 15 minutes!

Nepal in 2011: Abused, Raped, Plundered and Forgotten

Want to learn about Nepal…want to really understand it? This post by Dave of The Longest Way Home will educate you. I had many questions about Nepal and its complex history, politics, etc. that were answered. By weaving in his own insights and ideas, he made it even more interesting. What I find really fascinating is that he’s on the road to “find a home” and Nepal is the one place he really felt is/was home. That’s powerful. So are his words about the country and his experience and his feelings about it.

Memories of My First Safari: Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru (Part 2)

I don’t know about you, but I love nomads, tribes, villages, etc. Imagine meeting the Masai of Kenya. They’re  the real deal. Semi-nomadic tribal people who live in huts and move approximately every nine years. They make fires, go hunting, do tribal dances and live a lifestyle that’s worlds apart from mine and yours. One of the ultimate accomplishments for them? Killing a lion! Laura of A Wandering Sole got to experience much of this (not the lion hunt, however) culture. You will, too, via her great descriptions and photos.

Bonus Posts/Honorable Mentions

Franz Josef vs. Fox Glacier: Which Glacier Hike Should I Choose?

This is an excellent post by Inspiring Travelers re: glacier hikes in New Zealand. It provides you, the busy reader, with a lot of bang for your reader buck. The photos are fantastic. The experience, vicarious. And the tips are useful (not just about which hike, but how to dress and prepare, etc.) Some of the information is surprising, too–eg, the fact that you can wear shorts if you want. Looks like a ‘cool’ experience!

Photo Essay: Woggan-Ma-Gule

This Australian aboriginal ceremony, Woggan-ma-gule, is performed at both contemporary and traditional gatherings. It means ‘meeting of the waters’ and is how the past is commemorated and the future is celebrated. Destination World’s photos of this are simply brilliant and worth checking out.

Running of the Bulls

Although Photo District News is not part of the travel blogger community, this photo essay of theirs is Triptastic and worthy of a mention. The reason? High-quality images that simply blew my mind. I visited Spain twice and lived there, but somehow missed the Running of the Bulls. These photos made up for it, thanks to the angles, colors and amazing composition.

How Many Picks? How Often?

While many people run their picks once a week or biweekly, I’m going to do this approximately every 3 weeks or so–when I’ve found just enough and the right ones (not all will be brand new). It’ll generally in the middle of or be close to the end of the month and cover the previous 30 days. Some will be new, others ‘fresh’ and some a little older.

Help Me with the Next List

I chose the Triptastic Picks on my own, but I do appreciate some help with the review process. I’m sure there are a lot of posts I don’t see that may be worthy of recognition here.

Want to be considered or know of a post that that you’d like to recommend? Please do the following:

• Recommend yourself or someone else over on my Facebook page*
• Follow the format I used above (the name of the post, a link and a 2-sentence description)
• Include posts between these (approximate) dates: Feb 17th and March 6th

*Note: Submissions must be made on Facebook to be considered. Thank you!

Previous Triptastic 10 Lists

Triptastic 10 List #1 (January 2011)