Greetings all!  With the success of TravelBlogger Magazine, editor Ian MacKenzie has decided to operate a new blog dedicated to covering news, reviews and resources for the online traveler.  Here's the address: www.bravenewtraveler.com

This magazine differs from others on the web.  Brave New Traveler will not feature reviews or travel articles in specific places.  Rather, it will focus on reviewing and collecting the innumerable amount of tools for the online traveler, as well as tips for wielding technology along your trip.  Topics will include: the best way to store your photos, how not to get your laptop stolen, the best places to research your destination before you go, how to score cheap or free accommodation, and lots more.

Check it out, leave a comment, sign up for updates, whatever you like.  Visit www.bravenewtraveler.com  and learn more.

The destination for this trip is in the small indigenous community of Molmol in the Southern island of Mindanao, the Philippines. This community is planning to construct a tribal hall and to repair several of their classrooms, so there is an opportunity for volunteers to assist the people in these projects.

Also, as this village is 1,000 km from the nearest hospital or clinic, virtually none of the community-members will have received personal medical attention before, so there is a special request for medical volunteers. Participants will have an opportunity to learn about IP (Indigenous Peoples) issues, as HOPE's work in the Philippines particularly focuses upon these marginalized communities.

NOTE: Due to its isolation, travel to this location is lengthy and somewhat arduous, involving an in-country flight, vehicle trip, boat ride, and five-hour walk/hike.

Dates: Two weeks in late November.

Cost: CND $3000 is all-inclusive (airfare, insurance, preparation, all in-country travel and accommodations).  NOTE: Fee is based on flights from Vancouver, so the cost may vary according to where a participant is located.

For more information, contact Kristin Treleaven at 1-866-525-4673, ext. 20, or kristint@hope-international.com, or visit HOPE's website at www.hope-international.com

If you're conscious about your own ecological footprint in the world, and you love travelling, you probably realize each flight spews quite an amount of pollution into the atmosphere.  So why not make a small attempt to offset the environmental cost of your trip by planting a tree? 

That's the ingenious idea of a website called Treeflights.com

Here's a look at their service:

"There’s no way of avoiding it, flying is inherently environmentally
destructive and we shouldn’t do any more of it than we really have to.
Planting a tree, on the other hand, is an ecologically constructive
thing to do. Trees use the sun’s energy to absorb CO2, taking it out of the
atmosphere (where it’s really harmful) and turning it into this wonderful,
renewable material that we call wood. Trees encourage biodiversity and are
also fantastic air purifiers.

The only problem with trees is that they take ages to grow. You have
to understand, when you “make it a Treeflight” that this is not a
quick-fix and your flight will not suddenly become ‘carbon neutral’.
But from the moment it’s planted, your little tree will start working its repair
magic, tirelessly - for all of us."

So check it out and plant a tree!  www.treeflights.com

Chock full of brand new articles from writers all over the world, the new issue of TravelBlogger Magazine shouldn't be missed!  From Papua New Guinea, Burma, Thailand, Portugal and beyond, read tales of reflection and adventure.  (Not necessarily in that order...) Read it now http://www.travelblogger.net/magazine

As some of you may have noticed, TravelBlogger was unfortunately inaccesible for a short while.  We were having some brief technical difficulties which have now been fixed.  While we make every effort to make sure the site is running smoothly, sometimes these hiccups are unavoidable.  Thanks for bearing with us! 

Traveling often means getting yourself into an innumerable amount of precarious situations...sometimes harrowing, sometimes serious, though most turn out to be little more than good stories after the fact. 

Darlow Smithson Productions are currently producing a series for the Discovery Channel, ''I Shouldn't Be Alive", about extraordinary stories of survival. They have produced films about mountaineering accidents, being lost in the Amazon jungle and being stranded in the open sea in a dinghy.

They are now looking for stories for the second series.  Have you had a holiday/adventure experience turn into an amazing fight for survival?

If you would like to share your story please send it to
kelda.deike@darlowsmithson.com

  

Well, as some of you may have noticed, there hasn't been any big news in a while.  That's because all of us wonderful people behind TravelBlogger have been backpacking around Southeast Asia. We've met some awesome people, shared a few laughs, and probably promoted this website in some way...so fear not about the updates.  Upon our return, we'll hop on the update bandwagon.  In the meantime, feel free to check out our profiles;  "ianmack" and "jamaiken." 

Issue #6 of TravelBlogger Magazine is now online, with plenty of great articles to read, wallpapers to download, and authors to admire.  For those who don't know - TravelBlogger Magazine is published every two months with the work of volunteer contributors that just love to share their tales.  Want to publish your own?  Send an email to me (ian@travelblogger.net) and let me know!

Now each member can create their own link directory with websites of interest to show their loyal readers.  These could include location specific tour companies and activities you've enjoyed, hostels you've stayed at, or great non-profit companies you've come across.  Also you can create a section of links to all your friends' blogs and other TravelBlogger members with ease.  Access your link section from your member admin, and get started today! 

The latest and greatest issue of TravelBlogger Magazine is now online, with plenty of great articles to read, wallpapers to download, and authors to admire.  For those who don't know - TravelBlogger Magazine is published every two months with the work of volunteer contributors that just love to share their tales.  Want to publish your own?  Send an email to me (ian@travelblogger.net) and let me know!

-- ianmack

Read a TravelBlogger Magazine article and wanted to add your own two cents?  Well now you can.  Just like every photo and blog entry, commenting is now available on all magazine articles.  Authors love to get feedback on their work so comment away.  Also, a new search feature allows you to sift through all the past and present articles.  Try it out, it works great! 

We've now expanded our upgraded account to include more photo space (50MB), no banner ads, and no account expiry.  This means you can publish much more about your trips without cluttering up the page with banner ads and including more photos to show everyone the details.  Upgraded accounts are only $19.99 (one time fee) which you can activate by clicking the icon in the top left of your member account. Already upgraded? Don't worry, the new features are already included.

-- ianmack

Check out the Travel Blogger store for tons of great stuff, like our global community T-shirts and partner merchants like No Sweat Apparel and Global Exchange (featuring all Fair Trade products).  Every purchase made through these sites helps support Travel Blogger.  Visit Store

Check out the new issue, hot off the press!  Jeff Eager goes on a Zen pilgramage, Crossfire runs with the bulls in Spain, David Sax visits sharks in South Africa, Gina Jamal explores Belgrade, Naomi Liu offers five tips for better photos, Doug Dosdall hits Cuba's gay community, Kelly White wonders about Barcelona, and Nina Bressler reveals behind the scenes of a Prage pub crawl. Plus we've got movie reviews, stories and more!

We've now added a simple way to stop members getting spam messages. To comment on a blog entry/photo or sign the guestbook, you just have to re-type a code.  That's it!  So go nuts with the commenting because it's fun and let's other members know you like their travel blogging.

Booking your hostel in advance has some really good benefits.  You don't have to wander around looking for somewhere with vacancies and you can spend more time exploring the city without your backpack.  Also it's just a nice feeling knowing you have somewhere to sleep at night.  Not like that time I was in Rome and missed the night train, and so had to sleep on the sidewalk.  Memorable? Yes.  Comfortable?  Actually it wasn't too bad.  Anyway, check out our expanded hostel booking section and book away!

Not only can you comment on every blog entry, now you can comment on every photo!  We just figured some people like to express their awe at all the neat photos all our members are uploading.  And it's easy -- when you're viewing the photo just click the "Leave a comment" and away you go.  Both TravelBlogger members and Non-members can comment.  And you can view/delete all your comments from your member admin, and also turn off your "auto-notification" which emails you everytime someone leaves a comment.  Enjoy!

Feel like publishing some of your adventures for a wider audience?  Then consider submitting an article or photograph to TravelBlogger.net Magazine!  We like to publish stories about life-changing experiences, how-to pieces, and generally anything that's of interest to backpackers and travelers.  The submission deadline for the August/Sept issue is July 14, 2005, so hurry and send an email to ian@travelblogger.net

All TravelBlogger member profiles have been expanded to include a whack more information!  Now you can let others know more about what makes you tick, and why you frequently choose the open road instead of the morning commute. So check it out from your member admin and fill out as much or as little as you like.  And if you have any other suggestions about the site, let us know from the above 'suggestion box' link.

Lazy hazy days of summer find you at the beach or in a particularly comfortable hammock? Well if you're looking for a novel or two, look no further than the new and improved TravelBlogger.net Bookstore.  We've updated it with more suggested titles, arranged into two categories: Fiction/Non-Fiction and Instructional.  When you buy a book from our store, (through Amazon) we earn a small commission which helps us continue to run TravelBlogger.

Have a book that you think we’d be interested in featuring?  Send an email to ian@travelblogger.net and let us know!

Ever wonder why you couldn't comment on a member's specific blog entries? Well now you can!  Both Travelblogger members and non-members can leave their comments on each blog entry.  Try it out, it's fun!  Comment on other members' travels, and encourage your friends and family to comment on your blog entries.  After all, blogging is just more exciting with comments.

Well if you didn't notice any interruption, then we did our job well!  TravelBlogger.net has now moved to it's own dedicated server, which means faster loading times as you navigate the site, and when you upload your photos.  That shows just how much we care about you and your travel blogging experience. Group hug, come on.  There we go.

TravelBlogger.net would like to thank everyone for coming out to our Official Launch Party!  It was a great night for everyone involved, with almost 100 people entering our draw and winning great prizes from Whistler Bungee, Labatt's, and Dojang Martial Arts Studios.  Sean and myself were able to speak with some really interesting backpackers, as well as listen to everyone lament about how they couldn't get into the U2 concert (also that night). While deejaying the event, I played everything from Jack Johnson, and Madonna, to ACDC and Steppenwolf, catering to the international tastes of the hostel residents.

All in all, an awesome night to kick off TravelBlogger.net.  Let the backpacker revolution begin...

Last week TravelBlogger.net was a featured article in the online publication Something Cool News. Here's an excerpt:

"But who will use this website and why? Ian explains that The Traveler is a different breed of person – a group of people with whom he can intimately relate. “I have traveled a lot, but I don’t feel like that’s nearly enough. For anyone who’s ever been infected with the travel bug, they know what I’m talking about. The only rule that seems to govern us is that we have to constantly be on the move, ready to grasp new lands and new experiences.”

The newest of which is a website that aims to bring people together from all over the world to exchange stories, share ideas and perhaps above all else, have some fun. And in a constantly changing world, this website might be just what the 21st century traveler needs."

Read the full article.

Mark your calendars...The TravelBlogger.net International Launch Party is set for April 28. 2005.  Generously sponsored by Labatt's, the party will be held at The Beaver Bar, inside the Same Sun hostel in downtown Vancouver.  It's going to be a blast!  Other sponsors include Dojang Martial Arts Studio and Whistler Bungee. Myself (aka DJ MacK) will be spinning the music, and giving out awesome prizes like free bungee jumps and TravelBlogger merchandise. 

More info to come later...

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication.  People also call them web feeds.  If you're using a browser such as Mozilla Firefox (which we highly recommend), when you're browsing member blogs, you'll notice the following icon in the bottom right hand corner of the screen.



By clicking that, you can dynamically bookmark a users blog.  Then later, when you view the bookmark from the top menu of your browser, it will show you that persons last 15 posts, and will direct you right to those entries.  Pretty cool!  If you still have no idea what I'm talking about then read up on RSS here. But that's just the tip of the iceberg.  More to come later!

Starting April 2005, we're looking for a member to cherish on the homepage as the monthly Feature TravelBlogger! This lucky member will have their profile photo on the homepage, featured links to all their amazing travelblogs, and the envy of the travel community.

More details here

Q. How do I become the Featured TravelBlogger?

A. It's easy! Just make sure that your TravelBlogger.net member profile is filled out with a profile photograph, personal information completed, and at least two travel blogs with a good amount of entries and photos. It's so easy, even a super-intelligent monkey could do it!

Q. Okay, sounds good. But what do I get out of it?

A. Aside from worldwide exposure and the envy of millions, you'll also get a FREE upgrade to a TravelBlogger.net Turbo Account. That's tons more space for your photos, the banner ads removed from your public profile, and the ability to create as many TravelBlogger Globs as your social life can handle.

So hurry up and load content into your profile! It doesn't even matter if your trips are years old, as it's still nice to view them online and relive old memories.

-- ianmack

Member guestbooks have been added to every member profile!  Now members who visit your profile can read about your travels and then leave their own words of wisdom.  What could be better?  In fact, just typing this fantastic news makes me feel like a new loaf of bread, fresh out of the oven.  So go try it out right now!  You'll make other members feel special by showing them you care enough to leave a comment.  And for members, you can manage your guestbook from your main member profile menu. 

To celebrate the fact that TravelBlogger.net has a couple upcoming events in the works, we created a handy event calendar to keep everyone informed!  It's accesible from the main page, just off to the right (you can't miss it).  All information regarding upcoming and past parties and events will be posted here.  The first party is the Jentrance Fundraiser, and you'll notice you can buy tickets directly online!  Wow, technology.  If you can't make it out to the party on March 19, 2005, have no fear, for I'll post up the photos and maybe a short video or two. 

Well less than 3 weeks after our unofficial online launch, TravelBlogger.net is sponsoring it's first party!  It's a fundraiser to raise money for Koh Phi Phi, the island in Thailand that was hit pretty hard by the tsunami.  Jen (from www.jentrance.com) came up with the idea as a way to celebrate her birthday as well as raise money for a good cause.   So here's the info:

WHEN: Sat, March 19, 2005
WHERE: Ralph's Last Resort
              8220 Lansdowne Road, Richmond
              (just outside Vancouver, Canada)

If you're in the Vancouver area, feel free to come check out the event!  All of us on the TravelBlogger.net Team will be there, and myself (aka DJ Mack) will be mixing up the music -- Top 40, R&B, and Retro (I'm all about the Retro).  If you can't make the party, keep an eye out for the photos which will be up on our upcoming Event Calendar section. 

Check out TravelBlogger.net Resources for our very own hostel booking engine, powered by Hostel World.  Now you can book a room, and a tour in more places then you'll probably ever visit.  Also check out the Bookstore for featured titles that will help you pass those long train rides.  There's nothing that says 'Don't talk to me, I'm hungover' like having your head buried in a nice novel. 

After 7 months of grueling development, TravelBlogger.net is now online! Upload photos, write travel journals, read the magazine, book a hostel, it's all right here. This is the first version that we intend to showcase to a small number of backpackers with the hopes of logging bugs and garnering feedback. So please, if you notice anything out of whack, send a description of the problem to feedback@travelblogger.net