Newsletter

e-Marginalia :: Rolf Potts Interview! Also: Frida & Diego...
Issue #17, December 15, 2005
http://www.e-marginalia.com 

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IN THIS ISSUE:
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WELCOME e-MARGONAUTS :: Frida, Diego, Nayeli and more...
FEATURE e-MARGONAUT :: Rolf Potts Interview
EDITOR'S NOTE :: Of Bloggers and Vagabloggers
TRAVEL STORY CONTEST :: Nine New e-Marginalia Contestants
FEATURE TRAVEL DEALS :: Save on Hotels, Car Rentals & More
e-MARGAUX LITE :: Quotations, Anecdotes and Humour

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WELCOME e-MARGONAUTS :: Frida, Diego, Nayeli and more...
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Voicing my dismay at seeing only concrete in Taipei the other day, George, one of my "fairy godmothers" – sorry, George – came to my rescue with news! Wildlife news, that is. He said, "I've got something that might cheer you up. Now, before we get to it, though, I'd like to ask what the names Frida and Diego mean to you."

"The artists," you mean.

"Right. Well, sort of." Odd answer, I thought.

When there was no answer I said, "C'mon! I'm suffering from the ‘Taipei grays'. Just tell me.'"

"You silly! Owls, Nana." As if that was the most obvious answer.

"Why is that silly? The muralist and the artist. I know!"

He laughs and enjoys his moment. "Frida and Diego owls." As if I was supposed to know. "Here, are you online right now?" I was.

I went to TheOwlCam.com and squealed. Or should I say squawked? How could I not smile? Remember those virtual pet annoyances people carried in their pockets a few years ago? Well, these would put them to shame. These are real cyber pets. Frida and Diego are real barn owls and you can view them through the webcam 24 hours a day! So I told George if he has trouble finding me in the next few days, he'd know what I'm doing.

Frida and Diego are just precious. They are barn owls with a great life, too. They're in the spotlight, they've got celebrity names, a cozy home and a family in the making. Oh, right. They mated early this year. They simply didn't want to wait until late March, when barn owls are supposed to mate. Oh, no, not our hot-blooded Frida and Diego. Which means if you check in enough, you might get to witness the birth of the fledglings. Don't worry if you miss them. There are so many pages and links all related to owls. An hour will have passed before you know it. Then there they'd be! Back again. It's all very neat.

I got so absorbed in the owls that I forgot I was on Skype with George. After hearing me grunt my replies to his questions, he eventually left me to my new virtual friends. Have fun with it! I hope you enjoy it just as much.

Ah. And today is already the 15th of December. Have you? You know, made your holiday travel plans yet? Yes. It's that dreadfully busy part of the year when making travel plans can become a nightmare. Not for you though. Have a look at the new search box we've placed we've added "e-Margaux Search" to our homepage and most other pages to make it easier for you to find what you're looking for. Whether you're looking for a story, travel supplies, lodging or flights, it's all nice and tidy in the box. This is something else that George put up recently using his magic wand. And, ladies, I just saw "spa" in the search box. Imagine a Christmas of real peace and quiet with no Santa in sight. Just you and great skin, food and massages. Honestly, it's a good time to make those bookings. My mother, who's supposed to be back here in Taipei this week is now returning sometime next year because, well, she didn't get my newsletter about making those plans early. Whatever you choose to do this Christmas, I hope there is plenty of time to spend with those you love. And please be safe.

Also to share with you is our 10th Travel Story Contest! Can you believe 30 months have passed since the first Freestyle Open Contest was launched? Time passes quickly. And if you've got a story to share and have tucked it way in the back of your sock drawer, how about starting early with a New Year's resolution? Give it here. Let's have a read. In this issue we've got veteran contributor, Wayne Yang with a tale about the author's lounge at the Oriental in Bangkok. Hear how he managed to get in with shorts! We've also got Nicholas Hogg biking through Beijing and returning contributor James Ullrich wandering in one of my favorite shopping places in the world: London's Camden Market. And let me tell you, he really does take you there. I was just there last winter. I'd also like to mention another first-time contestant Christina Costello, who's got a story on Dubrovnik, Croatia. If any of you are considering visiting Eastern Europe, her story will give you a good feel for it. Another first-timer, Cindy-Lou Dale brings us The Magic of Malawi. Her photographs are heart-warming and so colorful. Then follow Brian T. Atkinson from Memphis to Boston before you head to South Africa with another veteran contributor, Phil McCumskey. He takes you to a remote artist's village—one of those rare microcosmic views of a "secret society". And if that's still not enough for you, read how Louie Chen finds his love, the Tom Yum Kung, the Thai spicy seafood soup. This man can't seem to get his mind off food. Finally, Nancy Corbett, another fresh voice, lands us in Tuscany.

If that's not enough travel inspiration for you, then visit Meandering Margaux where our Nayeli's crisp, musical reflections began debuting about a month ago. Nayeli is taking a "gap year" to travel before heading off to Harvard next fall! Her Paris posts offer a clever mix of reportorial candor and witty first hand storytelling. She's observant, energetic, quirky, full of spunk and so cool; just see if you can keep up with her! Next we'll be hearing from her in Senegal. Don't miss this new talent!

And speaking of wandering storytellers, my interview of Rolf Potts has just been published. The author of Vagabonding, this 34-year-old has vagabonded his way through fifty-five countries at last count! Hear how this Wichita native left the prairies to discover the love of his life: travel, and managed to make a living from it! As usual there is so much more to give. Why don't I stop talking about it now so you can start seeing for yourself?

Again, have a wonderful holiday season and please be safe. We'll talk again... next year!

Warm regards,
Nana Chen
e-Marginalia Travel Editor
nanachen AT e-marginalia DOT com

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FEATURE e-MARGONAUT :: Rolf Potts Interview
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At 34, Rolf Potts, the author of Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel,  has wandered through forty-five states and fifty-five countries. It all started a decade ago when Rolf graduated from university...

Read Interview Here:
http://www.e-margaux.com/en/story/rolf-potts/index.htm 

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EDITOR'S NOTE :: Of Bloggers and Vagabloggers
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Nana's done an excellent job of getting you up to speed on all things Margaux, but I have a couple of quick notes to add, vitals I don't want you to miss.

We're looking for a couple of startlingly good bloggers interested in joining Team Margaux. Do you know anyone who writes well and travels often? Or lives in an intriguing locale and is plugged into what's going on? If somebody immediately pops into mind, tell them to get hold of us. I'm hoping that Nayeli's exciting postings are just the beginning…

Rolf Potts has personally inspired me for some time, and frankly I was thrilled when he agreed to be interviewed by Nana. And then when I read the interview, it ratcheted my excitement up even more. It's great! Not only is it a great window into the legend, but it reads as if he were right there in front of you. Two words: read it! And then head on over to Rolf Potts' blog. It's not only a super "insider's view" to the workings of this esteemed vagabonding guru's mind, it's also a super travel column, tackling relevant, interesting topics with gusto and virtually dripping with travel wisdom. Recent "must reads" include Rolf's thoughts after being interviewed for Arianna Dagnino's Lo Specchio article.

And there's totally pertinent, timely news too. Check out the call for submissions notice for Don George's "Tales from Nowhere" (Lonely Planet's 2006 anthology).

"The collection will comprise 30 true travelers' tales, full of passion, surprise, wonder, curiosity and revelation. Through stories widely varied in setting and situation, Tales will celebrate and illuminate the fundamental truth that travel sometimes takes us places we never planned to go – and that those unexpected journeys can enrich and enlighten us in ways we never otherwise would have discovered."

Pour a mug of hot mulled cider, grab a leaky fountain pen and get to work! They're looking for stories ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 words in almost any style (humor, romance, adventure, philosophy/reflection, etc.) and about the locale or subject of your choice. Check the information at Rolf Potts' blog for submission details and deadline.

Happy holidays,
George Davis
Editor, e-Marginalia.com
george AT e-marginalia DOT com

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TRAVEL STORY CONTEST :: Nine New e-Marginalia Contestants
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Bangkok: Lounging at the Author's Lounge
Beijing Bicycle
Camden: London's Hidden Global Market
Seduced by Dubrovnik
The Magic of Malawi, Africa
From Memphis to Boston
Temenos: A Place Apart
Thailand's Tom Yum Kung
Getting Touchy in Italy

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e-MARGAUX LITE :: Quotations, Anecdotes and Humour
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"Vagabonding is less like a getaway caper than a patient kind of aimlessness—quite similar, in fact, to what the Australian Aborigines call "walkabout." Culturally, the walkabout ritual is when Aborigines leave their work for a time and return to their native lifestyle in the outback. On a broader and more mythical level, however, walkabout acts as a kind of remedy when the duties and obligations of life cause one to lose track of his or her true self. To correct this, one merely leaves behind all possessions (except for survival essentials) and starts walking. What's intriguing about walkabout is that there's no physical goal: It simply continues until one becomes whole again… I'm not suggesting that the goal of vagabonding is to become whole. After all, wholeness implies closure, and vagabonding is an ongoing process of finding new things. You can, however, recover and discover parts of yourself—psychic and emotional parts you never knew existed—as you travel through the world. And, as you do this, you'll also leave behind aspects of yourself—habits, prejudices, even pieces of your heart."

Rolf Potts from Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel

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e-Margaux.com
http://www.e-margaux.com
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Westport, NY 12993
 

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