And rightfully so. This clip, produced by the Playing for Change (PFC) movement, combines a number of delightful human characteristics in a way that just makes you feel downright happy. Musical talent, individual artistic interpretation and diverse locations all come together to produce one of the all-time great covers of Ben E. King’s classic ‘Stand by Me’.

By making use of a bespoke mobile recording studio, the Playing for Change team have travelled the globe and made recordings of performers from all walks of life. Taking the studio to the musicians has allowed the creation of a truly unique virtual ensemble with a spectacular sound to match.

PFC continues to visit new destinations, to develop new material and – in addition – to make use of the Playing for Change Foundation to promote positive social change and further the love of music in the communities they visit.

We can’t sing as well as the performers featured above, but it’s amazing to see so many people making sweet music together for the benefit of thousands of people worldwide. We’ll stand by them any day.

This beautiful section of the Italian Riviera is known for its eponymous Cinque Terre or ‘Five Lands’ – five picturesque villages and the surrounding carefully-terraced farmland that have been insulated from outside influences for generations. This spectacular territory was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, but tourism has proven to be something of a poisoned chalice. The sudden inflow of visitors has placed major strain on the area’s infrastructure and the desire to capitalise has seen tension between developers and local residents grow.

It was the problems that these growing pains posed for the region that the Vendemmia documentary team set out to document when filming began in 2008. Then, unexpectedly, after the team wrapped up their filming in late 2010, a sudden series of events struck the area.

A scandal broke, revealing evidence of widespread political corruption, compounding the problems already facing Cinque Terre. Land deals and development projects that posed a threat to the area’s outstanding natural beauty and traditional ways of life were under way.

Local residents, already facing the challenge of coping with a booming tourist industry that threatened to destroy their livelihoods, were outraged at the extent to which the land which they called home was being exploited.

Further disaster came in the form of severe rainfall in October 2011. The extreme weather caused widespread flooding and mudslides, resulting in several deaths and major damage to two of Cinque Terre’s villages, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare.

Knowing that they could not let these new problems go undocumented and compelled by their love of the region and its people, Weller and Boeckle realised that they would have to revisit major sections of their film if it was to achieve its objective of bringing awareness and support to Cinque Terre.

In order to finance the project, the team at Harvest Films Productions have opted to use kickstarter.com to raise the necessary funds. With nine days still to run, the project has already secured its ‘bare-bones’ funding package of $2,600, but additional support will contribute greatly to their ability to deliver an excellent and effective product.

We wish Weller, Boeckle and their team all the best for the project and join them in spreading the message about the importance of sustainability in tourism. The situation in Cinque Terre could apply to any number of other destinations.

Let’s not destroy what we’re trying to love.

After quitting his job, photographer Kien Lam spent a large part of 2011 travelling around the globe. Along the way he made use of his excellent eye for a photograph by taking the thousands of still and moving picture, many of which went into compiling this incredible time-lapse footage.

While the film contains its fair share of recognisable landmarks, what we enjoy about it is how the process Lam has used works just as well with unspectacular locations. A crooked bridge over a fast-flowing stream looks just as fantastic as the Eiffel Tower when it’s portrayed in this way.

In addition to serving as an inspiration, the film also conveys a powerful sense of urgency. The feeling of fleeting moments slipping by, no matter where you are, really makes you want to get off the couch and make the most of the time you have available.

If we can experience even a fraction of what Lam portrays here this year, 2012 will be worthwhile.

Special thanks to our friends at Urban Adventures and pocketvillage for making us aware of this wonderful video.

Space holds a special place in the human consciousness. Before we were even properly aware of it, we yearned for it. The stars, so important to humans as ancient sources of wisdom and guidance, hold just as much draw for us today as they did for our ancient ancestors. Today, though, our shared dream of slipping ‘the surly bonds of Earth‘ has been made a reality; we have taken the initial steps on the journey that will render space as another conquered frontier.

This genuinely amazing video, compiled by filmmaker Michael König using images shot from recent missions on the International Space Station (ISS), reveals the next step of that journey: reflection. We can’t help it when we contemplate the unparalleled beauty of our planet, the flashes of lightning beneath the shimmering green aurora, the crystal-clear lightmaps of our cities. It happens when we realise that we have achieved so much in some respects, but that we lack in others; that we are all united in calling this planet home and that we need to care for it and eachother; that we are, ultimately, so very small in the grand scheme of things.

Looking back on the planet that sustains us all seems almost like an afterthought for a species that’s about to step forward into the infinite realms of space. But if we’re ever to get anywhere, we should never forget where we come from.

However, it is the BBC’s work in the field of documentary films that has, perhaps, been most impressive of all. With such luminaries as Sir David Attenborough acting as long-time contributors, the organisation has to be recognised as one of the greatest – and most loved – producers of documentaries of all time.

Human Planet, which originally screened in the UK in January 2011, was another worthy contribution to the BBC’s documentary legacy. The eight-part series focused on examining what it refers to as “the most remarkable species of all” – humankind.

When compared to other species on the planet, humans are truly unique. The sheer range of habitats and environments in which we’re able to make ourselves at home is extraordinary. We have adapted to life in some of the world’s harshest environments.

Human diversity is unrivalled. We differ so greatly and yet, ultimately, we are all driven by the same basic necessities and requirements. Human Planet reminds us to appreciate what makes us unique, but to also recognise what binds us together.

In 2008, Matt Harding released the latest in a series of videos that show him performing a silly dance in a series of locations around the world. Previous videos had mainly focussed on Matt dancing solo, but this version was different. This time, Matt had found some dance partners.

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‘Where the Hell is Matt?’ takes an incredibly simple concept – a silly dance – and puts it in such a context that it says more about common humanity than any thesis. By performing his dance with people from around the world against backdrops of familiar cityscapes, locations of outstanding natural beauty and (especially) average looking back streets,  Matt – for an instant – brings people together in something that transcends language or cultural barriers; a silly dance can be enjoyed, no matter where you’re from.

Matt’s still travelling and he’s working on another video that promises to be even more of a spectacle than the one we’ve featured here. You can check out his website to keep track of where in the world he is and register for the opportunity to take part.

We hope that the next time we share one of his videos that you’ll be able to spot your own version of the dance.

On the one hand, the forces of globalisation and business on an international scale continue to develop, shifting the balance of power away from individuals and into the hands of corporate bodies.

On the other hand, individuals and families are resisting this movement. An increasing number of people have taken a stance against the erosion of individuality and local values, binding together with those in their local areas to reassert their independence and unique characteristics.

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The Economics of Happiness film refers to the latter as an economics of ‘localization’ – the process of recognising and promoting the value of local abilities and assets in the face of a rapidly homogenising world.

From a traveller’s perspective, this documentary poses some interesting questions. For example, should we be so quick to jet overseas blithely when our actions contribute to significant environmental problems? On the other hand, without recognition the appeal of local values and regional distinctions, what would be the point of travelling at all? After all, the idea of ‘local travel’ is at the heart of a growing number of mindful travel companies, many of them now associated with something called the Local Travel Movement, a not-for-profit platform started by people from companies founded on a passion for Local Travel and commitment to Local Travel values.

We feel that this film waves some important flags, raises some thoughtful points of discussion for all of us who love to travel, particularly about the reasons that we choose to do so. We hope you feel the same way.

The situation in parts of Laos is particularly tragic. This is not a region that most of the world normally recognises as having been affected by the Vietnam war. While officially confined to Laos’ neighbour, tremendous volumes of bombs were also dropped on the dense forest Laos in an attempt by the US government to disrupt the activity of the Viet Cong.

The effectiveness of this strategy from a military perspective was, at best, debatable, but the toll on the lives of the native Laotian people is one that continues to rise. Dormant bombs maim and kill to this day, despite the best efforts of those who attempt to recover and deactivate such devices.

peaceBOMB – a joint venture between the RISE Project, responsible fashion company Article 22 and local Laotian artisans – aims to raise awareness of the ongoing situation in Laos. To do so, they make use of metal reclaimed from actual bombs to fashion items for sale. The project channels funds directly to Laotian communities affected by the problem and makes the most of the expert metalworking techniques that local craftsmen have developed over the years.

This video demonstrates an exceptional attempt to raise awareness of a significant problem and the steps being taken by a local community to help themselves overcome it.

We fully support the work of peaceBOMB and urge you to spread the word about their excellent work.

The One Day on Earth project began in 2008, with the vision of uniting the entire world in a single film-related project. The potential for collaboration offered by the internet is something that continues to be explored to this day, but the group behind One Day on Earth set out to achieve something that had never been seen before: a collection of moments, experiences and events from all corners of the globe with a single unifying experience – they all took place on the same day.

The 10th of October 2010 (10/10/10) was the distinctive date chosen to be documented in never-before-seen detail by crews from around the world. The beauty and diversity displayed in every country on the planet was captured for all to see. It has now been compiled into a full-length feature. You can view the trailer below:

One Day on Earth – Motion Picture Trailer from One Day On Earth on Vimeo.

Despite some confusion with director Ridley Scott’s Hollywood offering, Life in a Day, One Day on Earth, which is due to be repeated on November 11th this year (11/11/11), aims to raise awareness of the environmental issues that we face together as a race, as well as the interconnectedness of all aspects of life on the planet. In addition, it specifically intends to draw attention to causes in need of your support, including 350.org, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam and the WWF.

You can pre-order the complete 10/10/10 feature and find out how you can get involved in upcoming events on the One Day on Earth website.

The sun sets behind the distinctive modern skyline of Frankfurt, Germany. Photo courtesy of Flickr/loop_oh

Getting Around Greenwise

Arriving for the first time in this city, visitors often overlook the river and comment on Frankfurt’s distinctive skyline. The large number of skyscrapers – a rarity in Europe – gives the city a modern and dynamic edge. The towering structures also reflect Frankfurt’s significance as a city of business. The financial institutions that have grown up on the banks of the Main are some of the most important in Europe, let alone in Germany, and have brought great wealth to the area.

Whether one visits cosmopolitan Frankfurt for business or pleasure, we strongly recommend taking extra time to explore this scenic and accessible riverside metropolis. Fortunately, Frankfurt is served by its own international airport: a sleek, modern building thoroughly in keeping with its home city’s love of arts and architecture. Located some 12 kilometres outside the metropolitan centre, FIA is one of the busiest airports in Europe.

It is also well-serviced by ground transportation and transfer companies. Better than any ordinary Frankfurt airport transfer operator, however, is Eco-Limo, dedicated to conducting its business in environmentally-friendly fashion. And now this company with a unique angle on the transfers business is finding new markets through a partnership with the Green Path Transfers global network of local eco-friendly airport transfer partners and ground transportation operators.

A subsidiary of Limo-X, Eco-Limo is the Green Path Transfers local partner in Frankfurt, Germany

A Greener Ride

Jochen Mayer, owner of Eco-Limo, has a lot of experience when it comes to transfers. He began his career as a taxi driver in Berlin while studying for a degree. Following the completion of his studies, Mayer got more involved in the management side of transfers and, in the year 2000, founded his first company making use of vehicles powered by natural gas.

Upon moving to Frankfurt in 2007, Mayer established Limo-X with his business partner Giso Dietl and, having a self-described “green heart and a belief in sustainable transportation,” he also set up a subsidiary named Eco-Limo to focus solely on high- class service certified as gold standard climate-neutral by First Climate.

Mayer considers Frankfurt, as a city, to be more or less as green as any other destination. However, while many businesses have environmental commitments under ISO accreditation, there is still more to be done in terms of improving the day-to-day behaviour of individuals. As Mayer says, “sustainability is yet becoming bigger and bigger. That’s why we think environmental friendly transportation will have a good future.”

Despite suffering serious damage in the Second World War, some older and more unique buildings are still visible in Frankfurt, Germany. Photo courtesy of Flickr/Chris Yunker

Eco-Limo’s fleet is made up of Toyota Priuses, Volvo V70s and Mercedes E-Classes. The latter cars have been specially converted to run on natural gas, while the Prius’ hybrid technology is known around the world for the best CO2 values in its class. Eco-Limo is also a fully invested member of the Bundesdeutscher Arbeitskreis für Umweltbewusstes Management (B.A.U.M. Ee.V.), Germany’s leading environmental management and sustainable development network.

Local Favourites in Frankfurt

Frankfurt is definitely not only about business. It lays claim to a vibrant and exciting cultural side, including a collection of outstanding museums and vibrant arts institutions. It also plays host to a number of festivals and major events throughout the year. The internationally renowned Städel art museum, for example, has one of the best collections in Europe. This is a city that loves its museums enough to throw an annual party – the Museumsuferfest, to celebrate them.

In terms of local tips, Mayer recommends the usual sightseeing locations such as Paulskirche and Goethe’s birth house, both very popular. But for visitors with more time to spend, he always suggests a drive to the Rhine Valley for wine tasting. The nearby town of Heidelberg is also very popular and provides plenty of old world charm.

Frankfurt, Germany, boasts many quiet green spaces, such as this one in the heart of the Bankenviertel, or financial district. Photo courtesy of Flickr/Matthias Schack

With its modern, progressive outlook and love of culture and conservation, Frankfurt seems like the perfect destination for green transfers to take off. Thanks to Eco-Limo’s new partnership with Green Path Transfers, visitors from around the world can now secure their eco-friendly transfer solution in advance.

Together, the “green hearts” of Frankfurt are certainly beating stronger than ever.

To learn more about Green Path Transfers and how to be part of carbon-neutral travel arrangements that emphasise green technology in a growing number of destinations around the globe, visit www.GreenPathTransfers.com.

Sun and snow - two key ingredients of the Colorado experience - are now available through Exectran, the Green Path Transfers partner in Denver, led by Karen Kerrick (far left) and Lew Kerrick (far right)

While the elevations may be sky high, one local company is working to make sure that the city’s carbon emissions don’t get there too. Executive Transportation (or Exectran), the newly announced Green Path Transfers partner for Denver, has been in the business of providing personal transportation solutions for the better part of 20 years. The team behind its success has over 30 years of experience in the industry, but has breathed new life into the business with a beneficial focus on sustainability.

Key Player

Founded in 1992, Exectran has grown steadily to become a key player in the Denver airport transfers industry. Its team of drivers has also grown and is now composed of a friendly group of local experts who can deliver essential tips about the city and its environs.

Just as vitally, a new level of environmental awareness has heralded a renaissance of the company’s fleet of luxury sedans, SUVs, vans and limousines with seating capacities of between four and 14 passengers. Over the last three years, the company has converted its vehicles to use biodiesels and other alternative fuels. Only one refit has yet to occur but is expected to take place within the next six months.

In Denver, Colorado, the Exectran fleet ranges from four-person luxury sedans to Maxi SUVs capable of seating up to eight passengers. All of the vehicles shown here are green to go!

Green City

The city of Denver is acutely aware of the need for sustainability and the importance of reducing the impact of climate change. Living, as they do, in the shadow of snow-capped mountains, locals are waking up to the need to protect their natural surroundings and are doing their part through a number of initiatives.

One key scheme, Greenprint Denver, aims to “integrate environmental impact considerations into the city’s programs and policies.” Greenprint also hopes to educate local residents about the steps they can take, both as individuals and as part of a grassroots ‘Green Team’ of friends and colleagues.

In parallel with this is the Green Jobs Initiative, which promotes careers in the local green boom industries of solar energy and sustainable construction. The program targets marginalised groups by providing training and skills-development courses.

Looking Forward

“We are very excited to be one of only two preferred [Green Path Transfers] vendors selected for Colorado,” said Exectran’s owner, Karen Kerrick. “We are looking forward to supporting what we believe.”

Exectran prides itself on its drivers' professionalism and training. Whatever your destination in the Denver, Colorado, area, you're guaranteed a top-class experience

Exectran is a shining example of the forward-thinking attitude that’s gathering steam in cities all across the globe. Exectran’s attention to sustainability and carbon reduction therefore makes it an ideal fit with Green Path Transfers, the world’s newest global environmentally friendly ground transportation service, one that has assembled a critical mass of equally earth-conscious local partners.

“We’re very pleased to partner with Exectran in Denver,” commented Adrian Cordiner, CEO of Green Path TRansfers. “The commitment they’ve made toward going green is an impressive and important step, and a great example for all transportation companies to emulate.”

Kerrick and the rest of the team at Exectran provide an excellent service that doesn’t cost the earth whether the selected destination is Rocky Mountain resorts – which are “awesome, whether it’s winter or summer, our only two seasons,” says Kerrick – or the surrounding area’s skiing, hiking, sightseeing, white water rafting, kayaking, swimming, motor boating and visits to ghost towns, or even the Denver metro area’s extensive attractions.

“Stay Green!” emphasises Kerrick. “This is the only earth we have.”

The sun sets over Toronto, silhouetting its distinctive skyline. Photo courtesy of Flickr/paul (dex)

Now, one Toronto native has taken it upon himself to extend the wider green agenda even further by offering visitors to his city a more ecologically friendly alternative to existing Toronto transport options.

Steven Frei, a former business analyst at the Toronto Stock Exchange, founded his company, Eco Taxi, in 2007, originally operating under the name Green Limousine. Having been inspired by Tim Flannery’s seminal text The Weather Makers and E. O. Wilson‘s The Future of Life, he set out to make hybrid taxis on the streets of Toronto a reality.

Despite initial resistance from City Hall, Frei partnered with a group of independent drivers and succeeded in getting a fleet of Toyota Priuses certified as taxis. Today, the successful company continues to help Toronto locals and out-of-towners reduce their carbon footprints. Each Eco Taxi vehicle emits less than 50% of the carbon dioxide typically produced by the gas-guzzlers and high carbon-emission cars often used by the city’s other taxi services.

One of the Eco Taxi's fleet of Toyota Priuses. While considerably greener than other vehicles, they aren't actually wind powered. Yet.

The involvement of drivers at the senior management level is another a point of significant pride for Eco Taxi and adds to the stability and direction of the business. The company’s drivers all own and operate their own vehicles, further buttressing their pride in the company’s reputation for quality customer services and providing more economic security than might be the case for shift workers in other transfer companies.

Collaboration with the local community is yet another important component of Eco Taxi’s work. Frei has taken time to discuss the risks of climate change in several of Toronto’s public schools and hopes to be able to increase this type of activity as the company matures.

Now, Eco Taxi is partnering with Green Path Transfers (GPT), the first global environmentally friendly transfer service, as the local partner for Toronto. As part of an international network of local operators, Eco Taxi will be contributing to more than the environmental sustainability of its home city but has become part of a concerted global effort to reduce emissions generated by transfers.

An Eco Taxi vehicle parked before the Toronto skyline, featuring the instantly recognisable CN Tower, visible for miles around

“I’m very excited to by partnering with GPT,” said Frei. “It’s great to have the opportunity to join likeminded businesses and people across the globe, working toward a worthy goal, using a smart business model.”

“With such a strong track record in eco-friendly transport, having Eco Taxi join the Green Path Transfers network was a natural choice,” commented Adrian Cordiner, CEO of GPT. “We’re very excited to work with them and are proud to promote Eco Taxi as our exclusive partner for Toronto.”

One final advantage to be gained from travelling with EcoTaxi is the strength of the drivers’ knowledge about Toronto. Frei likes to recommend the popular Kensington Markets and the Toronto Islands, but for a slice of genuine Toronto life he tips Roncesvalles Avenue in Roncesvalles Village, which recently won a CBC (radio) contest that asked listeners to vote on Ontario’s favourite street/road.

With the rebranding from Green Limousine to Eco Taxi now nearly complete and the company’s inclusion in the GPT network, the road ahead certainly looks good for Eco Taxi. By offering a green transfer solution to visitors to the city of Toronto, the company is doing its part to improve quality of life, not just in its own city but for our pale blue dot as a whole.

It is, in general, very rewarding work. We are an outlet for ideas and images generated by people who sometimes have never yet been published. As the huge majority of our local partners are not from English-speaking countries, often the articles we publish by them are their first bylines not in their native tongues (some 30 of which are also represented on this blog, even including Chichewa, Dagbani, Dzongkha, Lao, Malay, Maltese, Rajasthani and Tonga).

Making it all possible is a small team of extremely dedicated people. They’re the grammarsmiths and word wizards hidden behind The Travel Word cyber curtain, never spotlighted enough. And so, in keeping with this season of reflection and thanks, here’s a chance for them to step out of the shadows and be acknowledged.

If you like what you’ve been reading and have got a moment to spare, please do let us know.

Who We Are

The Travel Word team consists of:
+ Ethan Gelber, Editor-in-Chief
+ Paul Tavner, Techie-in-Chief
+ Laurel Angrist, Wordster-in-Chief
+ Cynthia Ord, Newsletterer-in-Chief
+ Natasha Robinson, Newsletterer-in-Chief, Emeritus
+ Jen Aston, Special-Dealster-in-Chief

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Ethan Gelber
Ethan is the Architect (yes, like in the Matrix) of The Travel Word. He spelled its first words and guided its growth from very modest origins to what it is today. Like a proud poppa, he can’t believe how much this little baby has matured.

Ethan Gelber happily on two wheels in southern Namibia

Ethan says:
When I was freshly in my teens, I went on an organised bike trip. Fittingly, my memories of it today revolve around goofy, barely pubescent social interactions; I recall almost nothing of the physical exertion. But a seed must certainly have been planted. In the more than 30 years since, I have gone on other two-wheel excursions, spent a decade guiding bike tours in Europe, managed epic pedal expeditions and written extensively about cycling (both on the Web and in guidebooks).

I can now declare without hesitation that cycling has been a lifestyle choice. It is even my primary means of transport, both at home and on the road; I can boast that to this day I have covered more ground propelling two wheels than I have steering four.

I just love the experience of it. I crave the feelings of both freedom (of movement) and intimacy (with a place) when I’m in the saddle, preferences that now also rule my travel inclinations. After long years on a bicycle – open to the elements and the people of a place – I now always seek out a way to connect with locals in all my travels, to respect local cultures and customs and to minimise my impact on the local environment, all while maximising my contribution to the local economy.

These are the practices I have brought to bear in the 70-plus countries I have visited (many by bike) and in many of the professional choices I have made. In present-day terms, this makes me a local and responsible traveller. And as they mean so much to me in how I live my life, I am overjoyed to be able to emphasise these values through something like the WHL Group and The Travel Word.

• Read articles on The Travel Word written by Ethan Gelber.
• Send Ethan a message.

Paul Tavner outside the museum at Verdun on a visit to the French Battlefields of Word War One

Paul Tavner
Paul keeps The Travel Word’s CSS engine running smoothly. He’s its engineer-tinkerer, who rebuilt the machine in July 2010, converting it from a charming jalopy into a sleek new alternative-fueled sedan. He’s also handy with a pen and nimble with design. A true triple menace.

Paul says:
I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a bit of a geek. As ‘Techie-in-Chief’ of The Travel Word, that probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise, but contrary to popular belief, I’m not permanently wired into the ‘net. Just like the rest of my teammates, I love to travel, and in many ways I’m a travel geek, but the real nerdiness comes out when I catch a whiff of a museum.

I love history. History and travel have always been intertwined for me. My family holidays as a child were filled with trips to battlefields, castles and monuments. I get it from my Dad – he’s a history teacher.

I sincerely believe that you can learn a great deal about a location and where it’s going simply by looking at where it’s been. And, yes, you can get some of this from a guide book or by reading up in your local library, but the absolute best way is to get there and immerse yourself; to touch the warm stone of the city walls or, for more recent history, to be with people who lived through it.

One of my fondest travel memories is slipping away from a group of friends in Zagreb, Croatia, and spending some time wandering the cool halls of the city’s Archaeological Museum. It was a quiet day, so one of the elderly curators walked with me. He spoke little English and I had no Croatian, but our shared passion for the history on display allowed us to communicate. An understanding that crossed boundaries of language and culture, via a detour of generations into the past.

• Read articles on The Travel Word written by Paul Tavner.
• Send Paul a message.

Laurel Angrist
Laurel is The Travel Word’s Mistress of Interrogative Words. With so many sources of inspiration, the blog’s got to have someone who knows who’s where, what’s when and how’s why. It’s a juggling feat worthy of Durga. Fortunately one hand also holds an editor’s pen and another an author’s quill.

Laurel Angrist enjoying good company in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador

Laurel says:
“So when is your next disappearing act?” friends are often asking me. Like many of my WHL coworkers and trip-obsessed pals, I spend an impractical amount of time just plotting my future escapes! Whether it’s my own country that I’m researching or yours, I love a good scavenger hunt for the tastiest food, the wackiest customs or the wildest path from A to B. Tell me where you are headed to in 2011 – I seriously need to know!

All that pre-trip planning keeps me reasonably sane, but it’s the unexpected possibilities that make travel exciting! I’ve been hopelessly lost and stumbled upon festivals; I’ve met locals who are now lifelong friends. “What sort of traveller are you?” someone recently asked me. It’s funny that after all my well-planned escapes and accidental adventures, my only possible answer was “a serious one.”

• Read articles on The Travel Word written by Laurel Angrist.
• Send Laurel a message.

Cynthia Ord
The Travel Word releases a theme-driven newsletter once a month. Cynthia is the new force behind it, a lively mentor eager to open her demure disciple to new opportunity. Look for her intro each month and her steady byline.

Cynthia Ord playing with perspective at Formentor, one of the most dramatic coastlines of Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Cynthia says:
I like to migrate. Over the past eight years, I’ve followed this strange instinct of mine – find opportunities in amazing new environments. Some of my past habitats include:

UDLA. I studied abroad for a semester at la Universidad de las Américas in Puebla, Mexico. My on-campus dormitory, Ray Lindley, had these peacocks that lived on the lawn among the topiary.

Finca Ixobel. After six months as a volunteer at one of Guatemala’s most legendary ecolodges, I will always be a little ‘Ixobelizada.’ I highly recommend Arbol tree house.

Spring Lake Ranch. During my year in a farm community in Vermont, I was a house advisor, woods crew leader, wooden bench builder, and maple syrup bottler and connoisseur.

Yoga House. After two months on the waiting list, I shared this space with a fun community of people in Xela, Guatemala, where I lived and worked for a year. I miss Lucky’s classes and Sunday night dinners.

Totoco Ecolodge. I spent two weeks here as a WWOOF volunteer, transplanting cacao trees in the organic garden area and staring at the volcanoes on the island of Ometepe, Nicaragua.

Adan’s piso. This is the crazy two-story apartment I found in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, where I was studying tourism. It had this green terrace and two secret passageways.

Outdoor Albania. Interning for this whl.travel local partner and living at Tirana Backpacker Hostel was the ultimate summer adventure in a fascinating little Balkan country. Best trip: sea kayaking.

Now I’m back home in Denver, Colorado, for the next half year or so, but the migratory instinct is still strong. I’ve already got my eye on the next opportunity. South America is calling!

• Read articles on The Travel Word written by Cynthia Ord.
• Send Cynthia a message.

Natasha Robinson
Natasha helmed the newsletter of The Travel Word until Motherhood brought her a daughter as her Christmas Eve gift. We have great confidence that she will bring even more character and wit to the raising of her child than she did to the development of our monthly missive.

• Read articles on The Travel Word written by Natasha Robinson.

Jen Aston
Jen’s got both a knack for knowing people’s longings and an eye for good deals. It’s a one-two combo that would make her a great Santa, but we’re happy she’s with The Travel Word as our bargain sleuth. Keep an eye on our SPECIALS page for new offers almost every month.

Jen Aston mountain biking in the Knysna Forest of South Africa during the Oyster Festival

Jen says:
I’ve spent most of my life in Cape Town, South Africa, but have family scattered all over the world. Although I don’t get to see them much, when I do show up, I’m usually lugging dirty washing and a couple of guidebooks. If I could just find a few distant relatives in Guatemala or Costa Rica, then I’d be all set.

I realised a while back that loving to travel and being a hardcore traveller are not necessarily related. As much as I love to disappear off to unusual places, I’m don’t relish the discomfort of it all. If I can avoid heat rashes, public bathrooms and eating weird parts of usual animals, then I’m all the better for it. Despite being a bit feeble, I just can’t cure my need to travel.

As a rule, I don’t take many photos when I’m on the road; instead, I keep a journal. Looking back through them brings my trips to life in a way that old photos never seem to. Here are some travel experiences that I’ll never forget:

+ Visiting the torture museum in Prague. I hope the nightmares will stop soon
+ Seeing the giant Buddha on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. Bi-zarre.
+ Looking up at Niagara Falls. I mean seriously, they went over the falls in a barrel!?! Was nothing on TV that day?
+ Rafting on the great Zambezi. I owe our fab local partner in Livingstone for that one.
+ Walking through the rainforest to the Deer Bat Caves in Borneo. Then enduring the laughter as, after landing flat on my back, I walked home dripping in guano.

By this time next year, I hope to have a whole new list to look back on.

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The logo of the Fringe Travel network

With the milestone of the 2010 World Travel Market (WTM) now fading into memory, many who attended or were involved to some degree are left asking a single question: Where did 2010 go? Time has absolutely flown by since last year’s event. It’s been a busy and, for most, positive year, so if there’s one thing that I’ll take away from last week’s proceedings, it’s that feeling of general optimism. There’s reason to be cautious, of course, but on the whole there’s plenty of creative sparks being struck and the signs of fires starting to catch.

Finding Good Value on the Periphery

I didn’t attend the WTM this year, although several of my WHL Group colleagues did. I was, however, involved in several of the large number of peripheral events that have sprung up around the travel industry juggernaut that takes up annual November residence in London’s gigantic ExCeL Centre. As someone involved in responsible travel, I felt it was a natural choice for me. Although I understand that many of big travel companies signalled interest in sustainability this year, I still find the more casual environments of the smaller events to be a more rewarding and more interesting place to talk to people.

The Heart of the Fringe

Top of my list for this sort of interaction was the WTM Fringe Travel Networking event, a night organised by the team at Tripbod. It provides a space for people active in responsible travel to come together and socialise outside the main WTM event. Having attended this event last year, I was keen to head back to see how much things had changed.

The answer was not a great a deal – not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination. The friendly, welcoming atmosphere was the same. The willingness to allow people to speak and introduce their ideas was the same. The undercurrents of energy and creativity were the same. In short, everything was similar, only bigger, brighter and better.

The casual environments of the smaller events on the periphery of the WTM made them more rewarding and more interesting place to talk to people

For starters, the venue was larger, with more room for people to mingle. There were more attendees – I met several very interesting people with exciting ideas that were completely new to me. There was a greater interest from the mainstream travel industry; Expedia, which sent several representatives, sponsored the event. Technology also played a bigger role in the proceedings, as the evening was livecast via the Web to viewers around the world. I had to dodge the webcam several times as it made its circuit of the room.

A WHL Group Get-together

Later in the week I attended a WHL Group event organised to bring together staff, local partners and industry friends attending the WTM. As a guy who spends a lot of his time hiding in a darkened room and writing code, I enjoyed the opportunity to put some faces to names that had only previously existed to me as email addresses. Many of the numerous whl.travel partners were in attendance and it was truly a pleasure to chat with the people who work hard to produce the content which flows through The Travel Word.

The undercurrents of energy and creativity at the events on the periphery of the WTM were just as strong at the 2010 WTM Fringe Networking event as they were in 2009

Also in attendance were the teams heading up the various WHL Group businesses, including Urban Adventures, Green Path Transfers, Gunyah, Lime&Tonic and WHL Consulting. Again, it was great to be able to discuss things in person. The internet is a great communication tool and most of what I do on a daily basis couldn’t happen without it. But, at the end of the day, it’s no substitute for a good, old-fashioned conversation.

That would be the second thing I’d take from my week on the fringe – the importance of speaking to people. Travel is a business, sure, but that business is always a means to an end. And that end is the experience of discovery, of communication and of sharing something, even if it’s just a drink or a joke.

I understand what WTM is about, but I’ll always prefer the smaller events. So look for me on the fringe again next year.

The Getaway crew could not have made a better choice for their first foray into Urban Adventures outside of North America. Taken under the wing of the local Urban Adventures guide, Mauro Scarparti, Getaway presenter Catriona Rowntree took a leisurely three-hour stroll through this romantic European metropolis, following the pages of Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling book, Eat Pray Love.

Urban Adventures look a little closer, like this detail from a fountain at the Pantheon in Rome, Italy

While Rome has a reputation for being overwhelming or disorientating to outsiders, Mauro made everything seem simple and understandable, and the Urban Adventures Dolce Vita Tour provided wonderful insight into the real character of the Eternal City. With stops at crowd-pleasing locations such as the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, indulgence in a variety of Eat Pray Love-inspired culinary delights, and a few quiet moments in known-to-locals locales, like Tiber Island, the Dolce Vita tour is an unparalleled glimpse into the soul of the city. Better yet, Mauro’s commentary is a perfect overlay of the kind of insider perspectives that make Urban Adventures experiences truly unique.

If you were not able to watch the episode live, you can whet your appetite online and learn about Catriona’s satisfaction following the Urban Adventures model of small tours that take in the sights, tastes and smells most outsiders don’t come across. Urban Adventures in Rome is just one of a growing portfolio of destinations that is expected to include over 100 cities by the end of 2010.

Remember: When in Rome…!