Here is a competition I couldn’t ignore. A $10,000 pot from Scottevest for one lucky person to take the trip of their lifetime and document as they go. I never enter competitions and could easily talk my way out of winning this one by saying I feel I’ve been to most of the countries I’ve ever wanted to visit. I spent 10 years doing just that.
That said. I love adventure.
And I also love travel. Be it by train, by bike, by foot or by boat. It’s the people I meet along the way. The people and their stories.
So what would I do with $10,000. Well I wouldn’t blow it all on one trip. I’d pick out a few of the worlds festivals I’ve always wanted to go to and visit them. I may have been to most of the places I ever dreamed of.. but i’ve not travelled to a fraction of the amazing events and festivals that go on around the world.
I’d pick a selection.. music, art, food, literature, there are so many out there. I’d probably ask for recommendations form my online places and then report my findings back using audio, video, geo and photos to share the stories I find.
Obviously.. without a sack of cash sat on my desk this is just a pipe dream. Still. It’s nice to dream.
What kind of trip(s) would you do with $10,000 to spend?
Interesting question.
I wonder if the $10,000 dollars would just be available for transport and accommodation (+ maybe meals)? I find that my ideas of where I would travel have a strong ‘where-would-I-like-to-photograph’ element, so I would need a new camera + lens + circular polarising filter + spare battery…oh, and a smaller, lighter laptop (Mac Air?) or maybe I could make do with an iPad.
So, having spent quite a chunk of budget on essential travelling equipment, where would I go? I’d head up North to the Arctic Circle, exploring landscape and cultural heritage, and talking to people along the way. I have wanted to see (and hopefully photograph) the Aurora Borealis since I was a small child and saw a fuzzy black-and-white photograph of it in an old encyclopaedia at my grandparents’ home. I am intrigued by the interweaving of old Scandinavian and British heritage so I would like to learn more about Scandinavian culture en route.
If there is money to spare after that…my fantasy trip needs a spreadsheet…
Cheers for the comment. I’m sure you would be allowed to kit yourself up for the trip of a lifetime. Especially if you were kitting yourself up for documenting it. I don’t think you should enter though. If no one enters I may just win by default.. 🙂
@Documentally- AWESOME entry! We have had quite a few @Janet, the $10K can be used for anything needed for the trip- part of the application is developing a budget of how you would spend the money. You should apply!
Damn you Scott! Don’t encourage people! This needs to be kept on the downl ow..
I of course would travel the shedosphere meeting a selection of the sheddies from readersheds!*
*been thinking of doing one of those books on it.. as well..
Wonderful. You are, of course, a total nutter……
Festival wise I’ve always found WOMAD to be splendid indeed…
Get over it @Documentally! Make your video viral and you could win! hahah.
You don’t make video’s viral, you make viral videos.. and it’s too late for that now. 😉
Anyone can whore themselves out to get hits. But it’s often at the expense if intelligent interaction.
I’d much rather have this conversation right here than a whole heap of meaningless hits from people who may not even have watched to the end of the video.
The long tail is of much more value to you that the quick fix.. That is if you care about what you do.
The internet is full of transient flash-in-the-pan ideas. Let’s do things that mean something and last a long time. The aim for me is not to have adventures in my life, but to have life as my adventure. 🙂
Ok, you win. Haha, Maybe your argument will be so convincing that you will win the Trip of Your Life contest too. We’ll have to wait and see- all entries are due 12/31. http://www.scottevest.com/contest
I’m collecting some festival ideas.. Let me know of any you recommend.
Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, China: January 5- February 5
Desert Festival of Jaisalmer, India: February
St Patricks Day Festival, Dublin, Ireland: March 17
The Carnival of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: February or March
Mardi Gras, New Orleans, USA: late February or Early March
Carnival of Venice, Italy: between February & March
Frozen Dead Guy Days, Nederland, Colorado: March
Songkran Water Festival, Thailand: April 13-15
Glastonbury – UK June
White Nights Festival/Scarlet Sails, St.Petersburg, Russia: end of June
La Tomatina, Buñol, Spain: last Wednesday in August
Burning Man – USA Sept
Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany: Late September-first weekend in October
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Mexico: November 2
Pushkar Camel Festival, India: November
Festival In The Desert – Mali
Byron Bay Blues Fest – Aus