Are we "bores" with our travel stories? (page 8 of 16)

A read that might empty the "Travel Journals" section of this forum?

Hi there,

Not at all—it’s a really funny book (written by a traveler and full of insightful observations) that I’d recommend to anyone who travels a little or a lot.

... time, time, Voyou, I need a good, peaceful free evening to write another stage of a travel journal, and for a while now, I’ve been spending my time on other things... especially preparing my next trips. 😎

Oh well, no! Okay, I admit that sometimes people get tired of hearing about our trips, so I tell an anecdote now and then and save the rest for my blog. Strangely enough, it goes over better on the blog—I try to add info that can be useful to everyone so it’s not just a story, and generally, people seem to like it... I think. And deep down, it’s mostly a pleasure to relive my adventures by writing about them and posting photos, so I’ll keep doing it, even if I *am* a bore. Oh well, oh well! xx

http://www.gingerteaandpoetry.blogspot.fr

Hi everyone,

I didn’t realize this book was already known to just about everyone 🙂 I discovered it a few weeks ago and laughed so much!

Like most of you, I saw myself in almost all the situations ^^

I read the updated edition (where the author talks about social media) and included a few excerpts in my post: http://bit.ly/ddaersv :)

Have you read the 2015 edition?

Hi, Thanks for your post—I hadn’t heard of that book, and now I really want to read it... The great thing about sharing our travel stories online is that we’re not boring anyone... and we still get to keep "a record" of our experiences... it’s a win-win, really!

I discovered the book recently with its latest edition.

As you said, the advantage of the web is that if we're not interested, we can just leave the site or video—it's much easier than telling someone their travel stories are boring! ^^ 😉

I bought it as soon as it was re-released.

It’s actually really funny, and some parts are hilarious. But even though it’s short, it feels a bit long ^^ The ending is more rushed and less amusing...

Hi,

I didn’t know this little book had been reissued—great news!

- Dare to embrace the chilling legends: "It’s striking when a rhinoceros looks you right in the eyes." 😎

this is the version in which I discovered this book. I don’t know how good the first one is, but the second is superb :)

When I started this thread, the book was impossible to find (out of print), and it was based on a quote that I’d kicked off the discussion with... Now, though, I’ve been able to read the whole book thanks to this recent reissue, and I’m not disappointed! It’s funny and really insightful! In this text, the author gives us a long list of details not to forget... to make the story truly original (in the eyes of the person telling it!) and often as boring as possible (for those listening or reading...).

Here’s a read I’d recommend to anyone who loves sharing their travel stories... they’ll appreciate it, but only if they’ve got a sense of humor!

Happy reading. Jean With a smile, I’ll share my latest story: Mauritius: http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7307776;#7307776

Hi Keussef, I think I’ve "worn out" my friends and family just like you have with my travel stories. Whenever I discovered a new country I loved, I wanted to describe it, tell its story, and bring it to life through my words, photos, and videos. For about 10 minutes, it was fine, and then I’d hear: "Oh yeah, same for me—when I was in Mexico..." and someone else would chime in, "That country reminds me of Vietnam where I went last winter..." I quickly stopped talking about my travels. Now, I’ve been living in a Southeast Asian country for 22 years, and when I read tourists’ blogs about this place, I’m stunned because it’s nothing like my daily life here. Probably because the magic of travel and discovery has faded. After 15 days in a country—even staying with locals—tourists think they know it. Apart from the scenery, they’re often way off the mark. Oh well! These days, when I visit a new country, I read books and travel guides (always helpful), but never blogs. I’ve really had it with blogs and travel stories.

I just ordered it... 😉

In the end, I don’t talk about it much directly—I share my blogs, post photos on FB when I travel, and then... if someone wants to talk travel, sure, otherwise... I keep it short (more from experience than choice). But I *do* love sharing...

Hi,

This book is funny, and we all need a laugh—especially about ourselves, even more so in these times. But if we feel like writing, why not a blog?

"A travel blog is like a slideshow evening that lasts six months."😎

I’ve been living in a Southeast Asian country for 22 years now, and when I read tourists’ blogs about this place, I’m stunned—it’s nothing like my daily life.

Okay, but that’s debatable. After all, everyone has their own perception of things—that’s the very nature of subjectivity. If the opposite of subjectivity is objectivity, then every form of perception or thought would be nearly identical from one person to another, and we’d end up with a civilization of cloned individuals. That’s what North American and mainstream culture want to impose on us. It makes sense—if everyone does the same thing (like traveling via Airbnb, among other things), it becomes industrial tourism.

Apart from the scenery, they’re often way off the mark. But hey! Nowadays, when I visit a new country, I read books and travel guides—always helpful—but never blogs. I’m really fed up with blogs and travel stories.

I don’t agree—everyone has the right to their own perception, even if tourists seem "off the mark." That’s just a form of snobbery.

"A travel blog is like a slide-show evening that lasts six months."😎

hmmm, it seems the purpose of this work wasn’t understood... 🙂 The point here is to discuss travel in general—with a touch of sarcasm and irony. Not to say whether slide-show evenings are good or bad... Moral judgment is about declaring things right or wrong—that’s black-and-white thinking... And using irony to talk about travel is a multifaceted way to question our lifestyles and society.

Okay, but that’s debatable—after all, everyone has their own perception of things. That’s the very nature of subjectivity.

A tough choice between an uncle Georges’ slideshow evening or a philosophy night at uncle Aristote Jr.’s. 😇

Hello,

"A travel blog is like a slide-show evening that lasts six months" is a quote from the book that had me laughing, just like the rest of it. I think I got the point of the book.😎

If your comment wasn’t aimed at me, my apologies; but if it was, I don’t feel concerned by "whether the slide-show evening is good or bad, moral judgments, black-and-white thinking"...

And to lighten the mood on the Forum (where I’ve been coming less and less, except when it rains😎), here’s one last quote from the book’s epigraph:

"Those who’ve traveled the world can make their conversation last a quarter of an hour longer."😎 Jules Renard.

"Those who’ve traveled the world can stretch their conversation an extra fifteen minutes."😎 Jules Renard

Jules Renard, 1864–1910... Long before the ready-made RTW trips

You admit it yourself. You want to talk about your travels, but you don’t want to listen to other people’s.

Personally, ever since I started traveling, I can’t stand people who bring every conversation back to their own trips. The worst part is, I might be doing the same thing—since I haven’t lived in France for a while, my daily life and everything I’ve experienced lately has all happened abroad.

Well, got it and read it. It reads quickly, in one go, and it's really fun. I loved it. A gift not to give to someone who takes themselves too seriously.

Still, from my point of view, there's a big difference between telling (or imposing your photos, etc.) to a group, family, or captive friends (like at the end of an evening) and writing a blog, posting a travel journal, or making a Facebook album: people can choose to look or not. Nothing is forced on anyone (unless you're being impossibly pushy , but then, if you want to annoy the world, nothing's impossible).

😉