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How To: Capture Your Travel Experience

I am a pretty sentimental person..and traveling is the thing I have longed for most in my life. As a result, the occasions when I do get to set foot out into the wider world I like to find fun and easy ways to capture my experiences so I can always remember them.

I always joke and say this is for my 80 year old self, when I have no memory left and grandchildren to inspire 😛 I know that I will always treasure these experiences and the most concrete thing I will have of them will be these keepsakes and memories I record.

So, the following ideas are some I have thought of for the easiest and most fun ways to go about this process. I have come up with several because, sometimes in the real world day-to-day I find that certain ideas, although good in concept, just don’t mesh with me and end up going unused. Others have fit perfectly and resulted in some really beautiful memories.

Enjoy 😉


-Journal

(Digital or Hard Copy) 

For me personally, I have always struggled to journal my experiences. Sometimes I have lasted only a day or two haha For how much I end up doing in a day, by the time I am home to write it all down I am too tired and there is too much to write.

Instead I have thought of using a voice recorder for speaking my stories and feelings. I think this could also be a great therapeutic practice where, at the end of each day, I take some time to reflect on the experiences I have had and the ways I have felt about them This too would help facilitate a sense of transformation as I allow those experiences to settle into my mind and my perspective. I think this is truly the power of journaling, in some way, your travels.


-Blog

Obviously I have found a connection with keeping a blog for travel related items haha I had many others that I abandoned before I found my groove though, so sometimes you have to stay at it.

Ultimately, I think starting a blog and dedicating it fully to your trip is a great way to keep a simple and fun account of your time that friends and family .. even strangers can follow along and live vicariously through you! Not only that, but all that you post will be safely held online and cant be lost or ruined.

I often don’t worry much about anyone seeing it, and instead think about more like something special for me to always have access to. It can also turn into something much larger and perhaps could even begin funding your travel…not that I’ve figured that bit out yet haha But, really, there is nothing to lose!


-Pictures

Being my mothers daughter… take a lot of pictures haha So, obviously, this is one my favorite ways to capture memories. While I have a nice Nikon camera, I actually find that I like the pictures I take with my Android Galaxy Note 4 camera on my phone much better. It is also easier to organize, edit, and make use of these pictures too..especially if you are keeping a picture blog!


-Keepsakes

Keeping some of the various items you come across is, I think, one of the most concrete ways to capture your travels. The people, places, and items you encounter on your travels all work together to create how you are feeling and the overall experience you have. As a result, when you bring these things together again (perhaps in a .. scrapbook) then you come closer to capturing that feeling once again.

When I say keepsakes, I mean things like: ticket stubs, receipts, business cards, post cards, extra currency – bills & coins,  pamphlets / maps. I’ve also managed to incorporate small shells, rocks, and bits of sand I glue to the page. I have even saved the doily for the water cups at the Ritz haha 


-Scrapbooks

This is my personal favorite, as many of my friends now know 😛 It is my favorite because I think it is the nicest presentation to have for ones memories. It takes a bit more work, but in the end it is really worth it. I already go back through my books regularly and I always enjoy them so much and feel proud of what I have made as well. Another reason this method is fun is because it allows me the space to be creative. Instead of painting or sculpting, I make these books and I put a lot into it. The best part is, I add in the things I have collected along the way like ticket stubs, post cards, extra currency etc. I think having these things along with the photos, plus little notes, dates, and labels, really add to the levels of memory in this book.

Another thought I have had recently includes, keeping the aforementioned voice recording attached to the album (in like a back pocket or something you can add to hold extras). Then you will have the addition of your own personal explanation of all the stories and experiences of the photos you are looking at! Haven’t done this one yet, but planning to do it next time I travel!


-Merchandise 

Last, but not least, buying souvenirs from the places you visit can be a great way to bring a piece of that place back home with you. I have done this over the years in a few ways.

When my family drove across the united states, I got a keychain, a shot glass, and a squished penny from each place we stopped. A little odd thinking about it now why I would collect shot glasses when I was like 10 years old haha But I guess I must have known the future ahead of me lol

Anyway, nowadays I still collect keychains but now I also like to find magnets, tote bags, and ornaments. I like to find ways to display them in my spaces and remind me of my adventures 🙂

Other unique things are great too. Eventually, when I have more money, I would like to find neat things like lamps and rugs and pieces of art to bring home.



 
 
 

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