HOW TO DOCUMENT YOUR TRAVELS (WITHOUT STARTING A TRAVEL BLOG)
First of all, a blog is a fantastic way to document and keep fond memories in a shareable platform that can be looked back on in years to come. However, if widgets, coding and plugins doesn't sound like much fun to you then what else should you use to document your time abroad?
Paper Book (Not a Diary)
This seems so obvious yet I have seen so many unique uses of simply a pen and paper. I have peered upon fellow travellers books with many questions. Some have simply drawn the colours they saw at Angkor Wat or sketched a plant they saw.
I have also seen incredible scrap books that are filled to the brim with ticket stubs, hotel business cards and napkins from restaurants. An awesome way to remember that incredible trip years later.
Okay, keep a diary
A blog, but not online. Good on you for keeping it old school. It doesn't necessarily need to be a paper diary, use the notes app on your phone. What should you take journal of?
> Hotel you stayed
> People you met
> Food you ate - both good and bad meals
> Fun facts that you learnt abroad
> Your emotions on how you felt
Vlog
I picked my words wisely as I really suggest you capture moments that include yourself. As silly as you may feel, if you stop and turn the camera to face you followed by saying a few words about what you see and feel it will be worth 10 times to just that shot of the Eiffel Tower which can easily be YouTube'd.
Don't be scared, you will thank yourself for sharing your thoughts to the camera. We of course recommend you not only talk to the camera but film the locals, the buskers and the sights you see.
Instagram it!
Photographs say a thousand words. Keep a diary with captions, tags and locations through your Instagram account. Then watch it grow with amazing shots of the foods you ate, the hotels you stayed at and the places you saw.
Buy a flag - get everyone you meet to sign it.
This is certainly not my idea but I met a traveller in Canada who after finishing up a breathtaking trip through the Canadian Rockies in a small group tour got everyone to sign her Canadian flag and where they were from. Brilliant idea!
Collect things from moments
We are always told to collect moments not things but what about things produced from moments? Do you have a favourite coffee shop in Paris that you kept coming back to? Why not ask if you can grab one of their takeaway coffee cups. Scribble the address and your favourite order on the bottom so you never forget.
Send Postcards to yourself
All you need is a few words on how you felt, where you went and what foods tasted delicious. This way you have an exciting diary you get to read when you return home.
