BY Sandra Larson
A travel journal allows you to document experiences about your trip. It includes the description of the location, itinerary, photos as well as some recordings done during the trip.
Travel journaling is an excellent way to preserve good memories. It is one of the most common forms of journal writing and is different from a travel blog. Planning to write your first journal? Here are some tips to help you do this more easily.
List your insecurities
Everyone experiences some level of insecurity before embarking on a trip. This is more common for individuals taking solo trips to unfamiliar destinations.
Having your fears noted down makes it easy for you to confront and acknowledge them. Once you embark on your trip and encounter some insecurities, you can always refer back to the journal entries as you also find a way out. Write down any screw-ups so you can read and have a good laugh about them later.
Begin writing before the trip
Most people wait until the journey has begun before writing their travel journal. You do not need to reach your destination to note a few things down. Start by listing down the places you should visit, your schedule as well as the itinerary plans.
Search for information about your destination and note down the best places to visit, eat, and explore. Note down some of the events happening and the ones you would wish to attend during the trip.
Have a daily writing routine
It may be hard to find time to write every day, especially during the trip. You will be busy sightseeing, hiking, and adjusting to the new environment. However, be sure to set aside a few minutes to update your daily events in the journal.
It is easier to do this either every morning before setting out for the day or in the evening. Just list down the memories and expound on them later when there is enough time.
It’s similar to developing a routine as you do when writing academic assignments. When you lack time, you go for top essay writers for hire. Sadly, you don’t have that option for writing a travel journal.
Balance imagination and reality
You may not be able to exhaust all your travel journal ideas during a single trip. Sometimes what you find at your destination does not meet all your expectations. Maybe the place does not match the stories you have heard from those who have visited it before.
Get creative with your journal. Write about the texture, taste, smell, and sound of the trip. Note down the ideas while they are still fresh and make every explanation as vivid as possible.
Add some pictures
Combining text with pictures makes travel journaling more interesting. Pictures communicate your ideas and perceptions more. They explain your trip better than words.
Take quality pictures of the destination, its people, events, food and activities. Write a brief description of each of them to make the narration more comprehensive. Do not put too many of them as this can make your journal too bulky.
Mention the location
Be sure to mention your location in the journal. Even if you have a great memory, it may not be easy to remember each destination you visit years later. Noting your location in the journal makes it easier to read later.
You can decide to use a single journal for several trips, or concentrate on a single destination. Mention every important detail of the location. Be sure to say something about where you spend the night. Most people tend to forget this.
Write a reflection of the trip
At the end of the trip, write down a recap of the destination and what you have learned. Ask yourself some questions about the overall experience, what surprised you, and what may have disappointed you during your travel.
Doing this allows you to gain more travel journal ideas that you can use in your future trips. Reflecting on your travel is also essential if you wish to teach other people about the destination before they travel.
Conclusion
A journal is not only a place to write but a place to get creative. You may not be able to write everything you do on your trip, so be sure to concentrate on what you need to note down and discard the rest.
Do not limit yourself to a diary format. Give your journal a mixed media experience. Take pictures, sketch some diagrams, and use appropriate grammar to express yourself. If you are anxious about your trip, feel free to note your concerns in the journal.
Author’s Bio:
Sandra Larson works for an academic agency that provides thesis and dissertations. In her free time, she loves running on the beach, doing oil painting, and drawing caricatures.