Ola's World: Diverse Travel, Diverse Writing, Diverse Life!

Women Travellers! For the Perfect Trip to NYC Travel With Lipstick City Guides

New York City has always been a favourite destination for women, and now our trip can be even more enjoyable with a new photo guidebook, New York: Lipstick City Guides from new author Debbie Lindsay. Debbie's guidebook is written from a female perspective, and aimed at women travellers. 

Read on to share my inspiring chat with Debbie, as she takes me on her journey from idea to publication, and to find out how to win a free copy.

Debbie Lindsay author of Lipstick City Guides - New York

1. Debbie, before we talk about your book, please tell us about yourself.

Debbie: For me travel is a mesmerising fascination. As a child, my father was in the Navy. When not at home he was off to faraway places, sending postcards from pastures new, entrancing my every thought. Some of those cards are still with me today as a poignant reminder of him - the distant lands he visited, and of a desire, that has never left me, to travel the world.

2. Please give us a synopsis of your guide and tell us how it differs from other New York City guidebooks?

Debbie: My guidebook is called New York: Lipstick City Guides, written from a female perspective and filled with our (women) favourite things. It is well documented that women and men have different desires, even when travelling together, however it is often women who take care of the detail. 

Aimed at female travellers, both armchair and actual, the world over, “Lipstick City” seemed the perfect name. Even tribal women in some of the remotest areas on earth, wear some form of “lipstick”, and it universally connects all women. The logo is a pair of lips sideways on, though because it is tilted at a slight angle, it could be a heart which also has global appeal. 

New York: Lipstick City Guides is an appealing mix of glossy magazine, lifestyle publication and traditional guidebook with stylised and detailed maps. This is a fun travel guide with an attractive feel, “handbag friendly,” great “flick-ability” and hopefully, something to treasure.

The three main city areas of Uptown (green), Midtown (pink) and Downtown (blue) are colour coded within each chapter, and where possible, this guide is arranged alphabetically for ease of use, unlike many others on the market.

You'll find chapters that include shopping, fashion tours, romantic breaks, hen weekends, quilting classes, film location sites, New York cocktails, weddings (including wedding dress shops, wedding planners, wedding venues and places to hold your reception), plus luxuries and limousines. Celebrities, books, songs, handy travel gadgets and Afternoon Tea are also featured, all in one easy to use and carry guidebook. 

All the hotels are hand-picked for their charm and character, restaurants chosen for variety and atmosphere, whilst bars include those where you might spot a celebrity, have striking views, serve cocktails, or play live music. All of the usual subjects are also covered, from theatres, parks and museums, through to buildings, landmarks, tours and weather.

So whether travelling with your husband, boyfriend, girlfriend or alone, New York: Lipstick City Guides is all you need to explore, experience and enjoy New York City.

3. Debbie, please tell us how the idea for New York: Lipstick City Guides came about?

Debbie: With a working career spanning 34 years in the hotel and travel industries, New York featured regularly as a holiday destination I was selling and as a city I visited often. After countless trips and using many popular guidebooks, I felt there was something lacking, and knew the time was right to write my own. The chapter headed “My Love Affair with New York” sums up why the first in this series, had to be the “Big Apple.” The rest, as they say, is history.

4. What was your writing and photography process, and what were some of the challenges you faced along the way?

Debbie: After years collecting articles, news snippets and rough notes of places visited when I was in New York, I started the writing process. At times it was a long and lonely business, but also exciting and rewarding as I watched it come to life. 

I self-funded New York: Lipstick City Guides, so my limited resources meant spending time alone in New York, last summer, taking photographs and completing my research. For 12 hours every day, I pounded the streets, often in 95 degree heat, armed with a digital single lens reflex camera, Canon EOS 550D Digital SLR Camera. This was the most enjoyable part of the entire journey, drifting through New York magic. A tough job but someone just had to do it!    

The strangest thing during this whole process has been acknowledging my own achievement; the most surprising was how unfazed and non-judgmental New Yorkers were about how people look. Visting many high class establishments whilst completing the photography, often found me alone, hot and sweaty from hours tramping the streets, yet everyone made me welcome, chatted and showed an interest.

New York: Lipstick City Guides quickly took on a life of it’s own, some days I spent eight to 10 hours writing. The hardest aspect was respecting my motivation on a day to day basis, and walking away when it didn’t feel right. 

The book, in it’s entirety, took 16 months to write, resulting in 78,000 words, 'though only 41,000 were used in the printed version.          

Hoping for a mainstream publisher, I received a dozen rejections before, with no experience in this field, I decided to self publish. So I set up two companies, Lipstick City Guides Ltd and Lipstick Publishing, (however with hindsight just one would have sufficed), applyed for an ISBN number, registered a trademark and explored every detail from layout to design.

My next task was to find a graphic designer and print firm, to bring every aspect of my dream to life. The book, written in Microsoft Works was converted into Word for the designer. The photographs were on memory sticks and the graphic guy combined the two. We skyped daily, chatting in detail about every chapter and my vision for each, whilst page layouts (272) were sent by email for my final approval. This process took around three months.

Once the book was complete it was emailed in a PDF to the printers (Gomer Press) for the production side, having already visited their facility to view the various processes of  litho printing and limp sewing. I then chose weight and type of paper, and sample pages were sent.

5. Debbie, now that your guidebook is published how do you market it – on and offline?

Debbie: Marketing and PR were never part of the initial plan, so each had to be tackled, learnt and conquered. This process is ongoing and undertaken daily, along with “tweeting“, “blogging” and “LinkedIn”. Each connection made is a way of getting brand recognition for the book. Joining the Sherborne Literary Society, Enterprising Women and AWTE was also part of the process and a way of spreading the word.

6. What and where to next, e.g. do you have plans for another city guidebook if so which city?

Debbie: Once this New York travel guide is established, the aim is to update it every year and to write a second guidebook. Approached by the International Tourist Office in Thailand suggesting Bangkok as a possibility, it is good to know there is an interest in the concept. However, there are several other places also under consideration, so watch this space….

7. What one piece of advice would you give anyone with the desire to publish a travel guidebook?

Anyone hoping to one day write and publish a travel guide, might
want to investigate every aspect before starting the process. Things to consider include photography, printing and design, through to applying for an ISBN, setting up a publishing company and deciding on a trademark to name a few.

Pick somewhere you know and love, as this makes the whole process more enjoyable for you and the reader.

Writing and researching a book can be a long and lonely process, so find someone to share your dream, and finally, step away each time you have had enough, so when you return, it will be with renewed enthusiasm.

8. Where can we buy your book and how much does it cost?

Debbie: The finished product is now available from Amazon.co.uk, Books Etc, Waterstones.com, the Bailey Hill Book Shop Castle Cary Somerset and Winstone’s Book Shop Sherborne Dorset. Cost: £14.99 - 15 plus delivery.

9. Finally on the subject of travel - name one thing you always take when you travel (work and / or holiday) and one thing you are happy to leave behind?

Debbie: When travelling, my two “must haves“ are a torch and compass. The torch so I can always find my way, and a compass to know the direction of home. By way of contrast, it is good to leave behind the stresses and strains of everyday life and to lose myself in a different world. Travel opens the door to another universe and  for me, is a never ending joy.

Win a free copy

Debbie has kindly donated a copy of New York: Lipstick City Guides to giveaway to one of you. To win it, all you have to do is post, in the comment box, below, tell me:

"What do you love about New York, e.g. your favourite places to visit / hangout? or if you haven't yet visited the Big Apple, why would you love to go."

This prize draw ends on June 28th, 2012, and the winner will be notified no later than June 30th, 2012.

***

Finally, to read more writing insights from other women travel writers, travel to the Diverse Traveller website here.

Prize draw terms and conditions:

• Prize draw open to women living in UK only.
• Only one entry per UK household; entrants must be aged 18 or over. 
• Entry must be posted in the comment box of this blog [Ola's World] only.
• Responsibility cannot be accepted for any lost on-line entries.
• The prize consists of ONE copy of New York: Lipstick City Guides.
• The winner will be chosen at random after the closing date of June 28th, 2012 by Ola, the blog owner.
• The winner will be notified by Ola Fagbohun by email no later than June 30th, 2012.
• The name and entry of the winner will be published on the Ola's World blog.
• The prize is not negotiable and cannot be exchanged for cash in whole or in part.
• The decision of the author is final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into.
• Promoter: Diverse Traveller, 72 Bannerdale Road, Sheffield, S7 2DP.

Travel Through The World's Coolest Airports [Infographic]

As airports get busier and delays more prevalent, an airport with all the right facilities can really help to make the time pass that little bit quicker.  Duty free is pretty much a given, but some airports are going all out in the battle to become the most passenger friendly.

With everything from luxury lounges and golf courses, to games consoles and 3D cinemas - and even the odd swimming pool or two - you'll be amazed what you can now find in these traditionally boring places.

In the infographic below MoneySupermarket have taken a light hearted look at some of the weird and wonderful facilities you'll find in airports all over the globe and chosen the best bits to make the world's coolest airport.

 

Article provided by MoneySupermarket.com

Take Your Hen Do Worldwide

Having a hen do no longer means having to party at home; these days you can travel across the UK and abroad, to provide your 'hen' with a unique and very special break, to celebrate her last days of single life. Read on for a few ideas.

The world's your oyster

These days you are spoilt for choice when planning a memorable hen do; spend time relaxing on a golden beach in Bournmouth or the Maldives, get pampered in the Lake District or Thailand or drink your way through the bars of Dublin or Berlin.

Staying close to home

You don't need to go far from home to have a great time, although a longer journey can add to the excitement if you have the budget.

The UK and Europe offer all kinds of destinations that are perfect for week long partying or a totally chilled weekend. London and Edinburgh both have lively club and bar scenes, with the latter an especially good destination during the Festival Fringe in August. Alternatively, head to a spa town in the UK for a weekend of pampering, including a risk-free fake tan to set off your wedding outfit.

If you want to take in a bit of European culture during your trip, try Barcelona or Paris. Both have gorgeous architecture and many museums and galleries, as well as a lively nightlife. If you'd rather spend your days working on your tan, then try the Canary Islands for pretty much guaranteed sunshine all year round.

Across the Atlantic

For those with a little more cash to burn, a long weekend or week further afield makes a great hen do. America offers many options, such as a classic shopping weekend in New York with horse riding in Central Park, followed by visits to all the sites from famous TV shows and some people-watching in uptown cocktail bars.

For the classic beach and party weekend, cruise down to the Bahamas , or induldge your inner child at a Florida theme park. The ultimate in hen-do destinations is, of course, Las Vegas. Sin City, not as tacky as many believe, is packed with shows, casinos and clubs. Get dressed up and head to a glitzy casino for cocktails, then take in a show or scare yourself silly at the top of the Stratosphere.

Pack the travel insurance along with the hen do uniform

Whether you decide to party in clubs, cocktail crawl, or relax in a spa or on a beach, don't forget to take out good insurance cover before you go. Companies like worldwide travel insurers MoneySupermarket, can help you select the most appropriate travel insurance for you, that  will ensure all your surprises are delightful ones.

Finally, whatever you decide to do and wherever you decide to go, have fun and most of all create memories to treasure.

Guest post by Chris Rawlings of MoneySupermarket.com

More online resources for hen (and stag) do ideas:

Alternative hen and stag weekend ideas

10 Alternative Hen Night Ideas

Stag & Hen Do Ideas: online resource to help you organise the perfect stag or hen party.

Where did the last / best hen do you went to take place? If you are planning one, where will you go?  And what do you think of the ideas in the above post?

Which books and films inspire you to travel?

New poll reveals the films and books that inspire travel, and the feelings we get when we are all about the travel planning.  

Media inspired travel

My travel wish list gets longer each time I watch a TV program or film that features a destination I am yet to go to. Recently on watching The Trip starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, I added the Lake District, Lancashire and the Yorkshire Dales to my list. The same happened when watching US TV Show, Hart of Dixie, my guilty pleasure, all of a sudden I was desperate to experience small town Alabama.

And I am not the only one being seduced in this way.

According to recent research by British Airways, more than half of us have been inspired to visit a destination after seeing it in a film. With Lord of the Rings, Mama Mia, The Beach, The Italian Job and Crocodile Dundee coming out as the top five films for encouraging thousands of us to head off on our holidays (to New Zealand, Greece, Thailand, Italy and Australia). 

The study also found that women were more likely to have their holiday choices influenced by films with over 60% of females claiming to be inspired by films compared to 46% of men.

Regionally we get our inspiration from different films, with 20% of Welsh respondents being encouraged to travel to Jordan after Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade; compared to only 3% of people in the South East, 18% of whom found themselves dreaming of California after watching Easy Rider.

Travel by the book

And don't get me started on books. Many writers say one of the best ways to develop a writing style is to read lots of books on the subject you want to write about, for me that's travel. For example, travelling around America by train is at the top of my travel wish-list, courtesy of Stranger on a Train by Jenny Diski and Waiting on a Train: The Embattled Future of Passenger Rail Service by James McCommons. 

The rail thing: across America by train.  Source: Guardian.co.uk

Once again, research comes to my rescue, proves that the power of the book effects one in five of us, people who have planned a holiday after big screen or novel inspiration.

Topping the list of the most travel-inducing literature was Captain Corelli's Mandolin (Greek Island of Kefalonia), followed by Memoirs Of A Geisha (Japan), The Beach (Thailand), Sex And The City [DVD] Sex and the City (New York) and Our Man in Havana (Cuba).

Travel planning is good for the soul

When it comes to booking holidays, many compare it to the feeling we get when we hear good news, win money or get a pay rise.  

Nearly a quarter of Londoners say the elation of booking a holiday compares to the feeling they get when going on a date!

And with 70% of Brits saying the excitement of counting down is a major part of the travel experience, the research found the most excitement can be achieved by booking and going within 30 days of travel.

The anticipation of a holiday has a hugely positive impact too, with almost a quarter saying it makes them more fun to be around and more than a fifth saying it helps them deal with stress better.

Happy Travel Planning

But this differs around the country with nearly one in five (18%) Scots saying they feel more generous before going on their holidays compared to just 2% of the Welsh.

And the mood that booking your holiday puts you in can be affected by how old you are as well as where you live. Almost a quarter (23%) of 25-34 years olds say they are less likely to argue before going on holiday compared to only 11% of over 55s. 

So, if you’re in the middle of reading a great book or have just watched an inspiring film, is it tempting you to find out more about the featured location? Have you gone a step further and book a holiday? Either way, what is / was the book and the location? Thinking about the blockbuster films and books of 2012, where do you think are likely to be the big locations for holidays in 2012?

The Simpsons' Guide to Food Blogging

Love food and what to blog about it. Here's guidance from my favourite animated yellow family, The Simpsons:

If you write a food blog, please let me know and if you want to share your posts even better.

Now is the Best Time to Travel to Spain For a Bargain City Break

Central Market, Alicante

In the last few years the dire economy of Europe has cast doom and despondency over the land. Spain is the latest country in the spotlight, but is the crisis spoiling Spain as a holiday destination. Curious to find out, I flew from London Stansted for four days in tourist reliant Alicante.

At first sight the town looked like many other Mediterranean towns, elegant high rise apartments, wide attractive shopping streets, a few out of town undeveloped brown field sites, but a harbour full of luxury boats. Despite the light rain, as a I stepped out off the airport bus, lots of people were out enjoying a late Sunday stroll along sparkling sea front. Spain seemed as inviting as ever.

On Monday I spent a happy day pottering round the old town getting to know and value the place. Alicante is famous as the gateway to some of the most touristy parts of Spain but this does not mean it is without attractions. I walked in the Parque Castillo de San Fernando  with views over the town and the sea, sat in relaxing squares coffee in hand, eating simple but delicious tomato tostados for lunch. Shopped in the elegant food market, just around the corner from my hotel, Hostel La Lonja, chilled out on the beach while watching the locals enjoy the late afternoon sun, before heading back to the old town for a delicious fish meal at one of the sea front restaurants. True, more shops are empty than normal, but nowhere did the crisis cast a cloud. In fact, Alicante seemed buoyant.

"But I was curious what life was like inland and further down the coast, where businesses are even more dependent on tourists? So on my second full day I headed for Elche and Torrevieja."

Elche sparkled in the early morning April heat: a place grown rich on industry, no obvious or immediate signs of the downturn here. Outside the town irridescent pink blue salt pans playing host to flamingoes captivated me. 

In Torrevieja, despite being a few weeks away from the start of the season the beach was full of locals, many from the rest of Europe who now live in the area, and holiday makers. It is new, a bit brash, like a lot of English seaside places, but everyone seemed to be having a good time.

I caught the sun then caught the bus back to Alicante in time to enjoy a tapas meal by the harbour. Then discovered the delightful town hall, and the near by Santa Maria church which is juxtaposed with the modern and free art gallery. The visit to both made for a thoughtful and artistic end to a busy day. 

Iglesia de Santa María - Alicante. © http://www.spain.info

"So if you are looking for a good value short break there is no doubt, the crisis is not a crisis for the holiday maker."

 If anything the ongoing Euro crisis appears to benefit travellers, who now get more for their money as prices have been driven down. For example none of my meals, in Alicante, cost more than 11 euros, and I only paid £62 for three nights bed and breakfast at the Hostel La Lonja.  

And Alicante is only one of a range of small local airports, served by EasyJet and RyanAir, dotted along the Spanish coast, all connected by bus.  

So if you are looking for a budget city break only a few hours away, take advantage of the Euro crisis and head to Alicante; I for one can't wait to go back.

Have you been to Spain since the 'Euro crisis'? Do you agree it makes a great bargain holiday? Where else in the Euro Zone can you recommend for a value for money city break? 

Will Travel, Around the Web, For Food

Tapas - easy to prepare. Source: RealSimple.com

One of the benefits of travelling is the opportunity is the opportunity to try new experiences, especially when it comes to food. If you are wondering where to start, here are eight foodie articles, from around the web, to wet your appetitte, and best of all you can sample without leaving home.  

1. Host a Casual Tapas Party | Real Simple

Bring a little of Spain in to your home for an inexpensive, Spanish-inspired gathering. Tapas, small Spanish dishes are easy to prepare and very affordable. 

2. Angela Hartnett's Creole kitchen | The Observer

When MasterChef put Mauritius on the foodie map, Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett decided to investigate. Lucy Cavendish went along for a taster.

3. Singapore: Eat your way around Asia – on one island | The Independent
It's 10pm on a steamy Singapore evening and I have a date with a chef. I'm early, so I perch on a bar stool in her slick Holland Village establishment and wait. Given the name of the venue – the 2am Dessert Bar – it's no surprise that the bank of deep leather sofas and elegant communal dining tables have yet to be filled. A handful of poised patrons have arranged colt-like limbs over the immaculate white upholstery; nothing here looks like it's ever seen, far less
indulged in, a dessert. But this isn't a steamed pudding kind of place.

4. Top 10 vegetarian restaurants: squash player James Willstrop |
Telegraph
After 10 years on tour, the world No 1 squash player James Willstrop reveals his favourite vegetarian haunts.

5. Dining Out at Ethnic Supermarkets in Los Angeles | NYTimes.com
Supermarkets provide an insight into local life, serving as a collective community cupboard -- and none more so than the ethnic markets of Los Angeles.

6. Site helps users choose restaurants based on atmosphere | Springwise
Tourists already have a variety of options when trying to work out what to do based on their mood. In the US, UK and Canada the Feel London site, groups activities by participant mood — energetic, sophisticated, hungover — is one such example. Taking a similar concept and applying it to restaurants, Hoppit is the first site to provide a dining-out search engine which filters its results based on the ambiance of venues.

7. Travelers prefer dining at airports instead of on the plane | Travel Daily News
While the airlines may not be making money on food service, airport restaurants are, according to a survey conducted by GO Airport  Express, a Chicago-based ground transportation provider.

8. Global Food Etiquette You Might Not Be Aware Of
The next time you’re gallivanting around the globe and sampling the world’s culinary delights, you may want to exercise caution before you take a bite.

Friday Photo: Flinders Street Station is a Landmark in Which Australian City?

The grand Edwardian baroque building of Flinders Street Station, below, has become more than a place to catch a train. These day meeting 'under the clocks' is a 'must-do' when visiting this eastern Australian city that:

1. edged out Vancouver, in 2011, to be named the world's top liveable city,
2. offers you all four seasons in one day,
3. is often refered to as the "cultural capital of Australia,"
4. Street art is pratcically everywhere, even Banksy is a fan,
5. annually hosts a F1 Grand Prix, Grand Slam Tennis and major Cricket events.

 

Where am I?

Please provide your answers below. No prizes just a bit of fun.

Share your travel photos, tell me where you are or have been.

Book Review: Are We There Yet by Ben Hatch

Book title: Are We Nearly There Yet?: A Family's 8000 Miles Around Britain in a Vauxhall Astra

Format: Kindle (also available in paperback)

Pages: 353

Price: £1.99

Product Description

If you think writing a guidebook is easy, think again…

"‘Hurry up,’ I shout at Dinah, whilst on the overhead telly Ray Mears’ Survival is playing extraordinarily loudly because Charlie sat on the volume button of the remote. The kids writhe about in the V05 shampoo they just spilt, laughing as the last of their clean clothes bite the dust, and I’m thinking: ‘Survive driving round England with two under 4s, staying at a different hotel each night and visiting four or five attractions a day and sometimes a restaurant in the evening. Sleep all in the same room, go to bed at 7 p.m. after having had no evening to yourself, wake up at 7 a.m. and do it all again the next day with the prospect of another 140 nights of the same – then come and tell me about survival in your khaki ****ing shorts, Ray.’"

They were bored, broke, burned out and turning 40. So when Ben and his wife Dinah were approached to write a guidebook about family travel, they embraced the open road, ignoring friends’ warnings: 'One of you will come back chopped up in a bin bag in the roof box.'

Featuring deadly puff adders, Billie Piper’s pyjamas and a friend of Hitler’s, it’s a story about love, death, falling out, moving on and growing up, and 8,000 misguided miles in a Vauxhall Astra.

Review:

Initially the thought of reading yet another book about middle-class parents dragging their precocious brood around the UK, in order to create fond memories, filled me with dread.  

However, it didn't take long for my mind to quickly change. A few pages in, reading an excerpt on the Daily Mail website, it was clear to me this was not going to be typical guidebook narrative of we went there, saw that and had fun. Far from the amusing excerpt introduced me to the Hatch Family, a family I was fast warming to. I was hooked, I booted up my Kindle and downloaded the full book.

Why? Well, here is a family that from the off, refused to take themselves seriously, and didn't care who knew it. Their children, yes cute sounding, are far from perfect, and despite working to a schedule (for the travel book Ben was Hatch was writing), their best laid plans were often unavoidably changed. And yes, I often laughed at their misfortunes.

Take the case of the car crash, while taking their youngest to hospital, during the time that Ben and his wife tried to get a listless Charlie to the hospital, the couple held tense conversations about their future, whether to go home so early in the journey, or use up their meagre funds on a hire car, thankfully they stayed on.

Then there was the case when Ben, accused of "always thinking he has appendicitis", forces a toothbrush tip up his bottom to move his poo along, only to end up in hospital diagnosed with a kidney stone.

While the family's many trial, tribulations and squabbles were written in such an amusing and entertaining tone that I felt I was in the back seat with them.

But what really engaged me is the thread that runs alongside the travel guide, that of the relationship between Ben and his dying father. The story of this choppy and emotional relationship, moved and gripped me so much that I couldn't but the book down, finishing it in under a week.

In summary, if you are looking for a travel book to guide you around family-friendly Britain, this is not it. What this is, is an often amusing, emotional and gripping story about family and relationships; that of Ben, his wife and children, with his brother, sister and step-mother, but most of all the story of Ben's relationship with his father.

This is my kind of travel book, so I say more please Mr Hatch!

Rating: 4/5

Travel Writing Prompt: The Scent of Travel

The travel story that really resonates with the reader is one that takes us on a journey with the author. Often on that journey we are encouraged through the words of the author to see what they saw, much space is given up to descriptions that would make poets jealous. But the focus has been on our sense of sight, often giving short thrift to the other four - sell, touch, hearing and taste.

The writers and book I like are those who involve all five senses creativity in their writing, almost, taking us by the hand and encouraging us to use our imaginations to touch, touch, smell, hear and yes see, what they want us too.  For me good writing uses words to create a vivid picture that we see in our minds, yearn to touch, taste and smell, and through it all we hear the sounds of the place many of us may never reach, except through this medium.  

Source: http://www.sedl.org/scimath/pasopartners

Feeling is often refereed to as the sixth sense, whether it is intuition or the reaction of the author or a character to the place or situation they find themselves in, suing this sense in writing can leave us wondering wondering how we would feel, if we were in the same situatuion. 

When writer Alsion Rice was asked in an interview for Lonely Planet Travel Writing (How to Guide), "What in your opinion, constitutes 'good travel writing?' As part of her answer, she said, " Something that so cinjures up the spirit of the place I can smell it." In the same book, the author asked the same question of Author Lynne Huges who replied, "Good travel writing should transport the reader to the destination or situation that you're describing. They should be able to hear the sounds, smell the smells, and feel the atmosphere." 

Speaking of smell, this is something writer Paul Rambali, in this extract from his book, It's All True: In the Cities and Jungle of Brazil, focuses on ...

"... I am hoping now to keep wonder and curiosity alive, in the age of armchair and video travel, by recalling the smell, the one thing that you can never write down, film, or bring back, that will always remind you of a place or a person. Because it can never be recorded except in the mind, smell is the most initimate and most mnemonic of the senses, linked to appetite and, through that, sex.

    The smell of Africa and the Caribbean is that of palm oil, used for cooking, a cloying, soapy oder to me. North America smells like the inside of an empty refrigerator, because of the air conditioning, or the upholstery of a new car. The smell of Brazil is composed of sugar molecules - the hot, sweet smell of baking sugar that wafts from the padarias, the bakeries, and coffee shops; and the smells of Gasohol, the potent mix of sugar-derived alcohol and gasoline that powers many of the cars. 

...Instead of the usual smell of big city pollution, there is the smell of burnt sugar in the air, as though Rio was not merely decadent and unseruious, but secretly made of candy floss."

Excercise:

Think of a place or situation from the past and describe it in no more than 300 words, using as many of the five senses as you can. Then read your peiece aloud and see how using all the senses in your description brings the place to life.