Happy Summer. It’s been a hot one. As I write this I’m in the shade, under the deck umbrella at the cottage. I’ve had three swims in Georgian Bay and it’s only mid-day! This summer we’ve had two separate weeks at Richard’s childhood cottage, with our kids joining in and family memories continuing to build.
Earlier this summer Richard and I headed to South Korea and Japan for a month of travel. This was our March 2020 trip thwarted by Covid and then delayed further by our transplant activity last year. We loved the friendly people, peaceful countryside, frenetic cities, exquisite food and vibrant culture.
Other News: In August I completed my Creative Writing Certificate and graduated with Honours at the University of Toronto. The program culminated with a panel reviewing 1/3 of the manuscript for my third book.
Writing a Travel Journal for your future YOU
Many of us take pictures to capture memories of our travels. They’re a powerful way to share the journey with family and friends. In addition, some of us pick up pens or tap away on keyboards, recording observations in travel journals. These journals tend to be private reporting, rarely read aloud or shown to others. Instead they’re full of memories we’ll revisit in a few months, a few years or many decades later.
In travel journals we’re pretty much writing for our future selves. One day we’ll curl up in a chair, read our entries and relive the trip. So here are a few tips after re-visiting some of my past travel journals and observing what I enjoyed re-reading.
“How to write a Travel Journal so the FUTURE YOU will enjoy it?”
#1. Describe the moment you’re in as you’re writing.
This is my #1 tip. It’s the part of my journals I continue to find the most fascinating when I re-read them. While traveling I made it a habit to begin many of my entries by describing where I was sitting, what time it was and what was happening around me as I was writing. Later, re-reading these entries, I felt transported back to that point in time where I had been purposeful about wanting to remember it.
Many of these entries are early morning – for example one in Phnom Penh, in Cambodia – I’m on a hotel balcony, with a strong cup of coffee on the table beside me. I can hear the clatter of pots and pans in the kitchen a few floors down, and I can smell ginger, cloves and nutmeg rising as they’re infused into meals being prepared. It’s warm out but not too hot yet. A cyclo (a three-wheeled bicycle taxi where the driver pedals from behind, and passengers sit up front) trundles down the alleyway below. And then the trill of a Cambodian Tailorbird bursts out – more of a purr followed by a trill. These are the details that pull me right back onto that balcony and I can remember writing, listening, smelling and watching the city waking up all around me.
TIP – Think of your 5 senses – What are you seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching?
#2. Mix up your content.
While most of the time I write in paragraphs, recounting places, people and thoughts, sometimes I’ll switch to point form, which is easy to write and provides variety when returning to read the journal at a later date. Including quotes you’ve heard, read or invented is also a great way to capture something that struck you and you will enjoy revisiting it later. I’m not a poet, but if you are, a few lines of verse would be a super addition too!
#3. Is there a story to tell?
While traveling we run into incidents that become perfect stories, or we hear a tale from guides or fellow travelers that’s worth remembering. Whenever possible these are great to jot down. If you’re in a rush use point form and you can flush them out later. Our minds always love a good story and your future self when reading it will thank you.
#4. Ask yourself – how will I answer the question about what I thought about a specific place?
When we return from traveling, we’re often asked what a place was like, or what we found fascinating. If we think about this as we write in a journal it can be helpful when we get home and are asked to speak about it.
Returning from Japan, I was often asked about what Tokyo was like. From writing and thinking about it, I had concluded, that for me, it was like visiting the future. On top of a 3D video board that sent sharks and huge waves from a sign board into the back of our taxi, their use of robots was startling. (1) A small delivery robot rolling into the elevator and asking the elevator to let it off on the 10th floor. (2) A robot holding multiple trays of dirty dishes zipping from the airport lounge to the kitchen, pulling back when it sensed a moving human. And then there was the stunning AI generated art and music we viewed at the Mori Art Museum. I felt like a child grasping at bewildering new discoveries.
#5. Observations – what was a new thought experienced? In Thailand I wrote down, “Rice growing smells the same as rice cooking”. We were staying in a small villa that was flanked by rice paddies. Early in the morning I sat on our porch overlooking the pools of water where thin stalks of rice plants were growing. As I was describing what I was looking at, I breathed in and realized the smell all around me was like rice cooking on the stove top, that fabulous waft of starchy rice when you take off the lid. That observation happened because I was searching to find words to describe the moment. When we write things down we push our brain to think a little further.
As we age, some of us are blessed with great memories (not me), and others of us develop ways to retain the past so we can revisit the good parts we’d like to relive. Travel Journals, whether point form & anecdotes or a full blown description, are a great way to store up “re-travel” for the years ahead.
BOOK PARK – Seoul
On our second day in South Korea we ventured to this five storey high book store. In addition to stacks of books climbing the atrium walls, there were lounges, private study carrels, a coffee shop & a movie theatre. With rain pelting the pavement outside, we enjoyed visiting this cozy world of books.
BOOK CAFE – South Korea
Ginger lemon tea by my side as I caught up on my writing in my IPAD. One entry I recall was describing the huge port at Ulsan. Our guide pointed out Hyundai’s container ship where 6,000 cars were loaded each week. They employed 400 professional drivers who parked the cars inside the boat just ten inches apart.
BOOK CAFE – Japan
This cafe was in Kinosaki Onsen, a 1,300 year old small town where visitors enjoy the natural hot spring baths inside Onsens (gender specific facilities, and no bathing suits allowed). I loved this light fixture in the Book Cafe with its five stacked, illuminated glass books. There are so many beautifully designed items in Japan.
INDIGO – Read the North
It’s been a thrill to be on the Indigo wall with other Canadian authors. At a time when we’re celebrating and more closely acknowledging the distinctness of our country and culture, perusing this wall & buying Canadian has been a soulful experience. Thank you Indigo for your continued support!
The Faraway World
This short story book by Patricia Engel was one of my favourite reads this summer. The ten stories showcase characters from Latin America countries. They are linked by themes of migration, sacrifice, hope and moral compromise. The author is a dual citizen (Columbian /US) and is an associate professor at the University of Miami.
The Girlfriend Book
I’m told my first book is a great summer read. It traces the lives of three women over three decades through youth, marriage, motherhood and death. While there’s a murder, unsavory characters & misunderstandings, the true drama develops within Nicole, Dianne and Kate’s unraveling stories of ambition, love and friendship.
Book #3 Research
It’s been a fascinating journey researching facts for my 3rd novel, which takes place in the early 1970s. I was glad to learn the suspended running track in Hart House, which appears in my story, existed in the 70’s. In fact, it actually dates back to 1919!
Thanks St. Mike’s Hospital!
A big thank you to all involved in surprising Melissa Martin and me with a plaque honouring our decade of building Angel’s Den and helping to showcase the exceptional scientific research at St. Michael’s Hospital. So cool to have the plaque outside the room where it all began. Angel’s Den now raises over $1,000,000/year for Research.
AUDIOBOOK Completed!
A big thanks to Marg Harvey for your friend’s referral to Robin Siegerman. The Audiobook for The Acquisition of Elizabeth Grace is now complete & is up on Audible. I’ll describe the journey & steps in my Fall Newsletter. Thank you Robin for bringing my characters to life!
CERTIFICATE Completed!
After 4 years, 7 courses and plenty of writing & reading, I’ve now completed this program at the University of Toronto and graduated with Honours. Thank you to my seven instructors. Special thanks to Dinah Forbes for your guidance in my final course, which led to a panel reading & critiquing the first 25,000 words of my third novel’s manuscript.
Are you in a Book Club?
I’m open to attend virtually by Zoom or Teams. Or I’m happy to answer your questions via email and return them to you in time for your Book Club meeting.
Please do enquire. I can be reached at gwen@gwenkharvey.com.
Enjoying the Newsletter? Scroll down to the bottom of the page and sign up!
You’ll get each monthly newsletter delivered straight to your inbox!