Talking Travel-The Magazine Spring, 2013 | Page 3

Welcome to the first issue of Talking Travel, The Magazine In the time of Confucius, the very concept of having "10,000' of anything was equivalent to today's concepts of quadrillion dollar national budgets and computer terabytes and petabytes. It was an unfathomable idea in 550 BCE but as soon as people started to travel and the world around them became a smaller place, the idea of '10,000 miles' became yesterday's news. Today’s travellers are looking for the ‘what else’ in travel. They translate the word ‘value’ to mean something that will satisfy their need to do something extraordinary on their vacation and ultimately to exceed their expectations. Of course the idea of ‘extraordinary’ is in the eye of the beholder. I love that expression because it covers so many aspects of what I believe travel to be all about: Research and then embark on your travels. A beach holiday at a three-star all- inclusive can be extraordinary if it responds to a need for fun and relaxation and convenience and cost. And an adventure in Peru or Tibet or Japan can also be extraordinary if the experience matches and surpasses the customer’s dreams of interacting with the people and the culture, engaging in some physical challenges, gazing at magnificent landscapes or ancient temples and monasteries, enjoying the food and local drinks, and adopting the attitude of ‘global tourist…out to explore as much of the world as possible’. The research can take any comfort form you wish, whether it is through social media, Google, public forums on travel advice, seminars, webinars, travel literature, guide books, magazines, newsletters, television, movies and more. Talking Travel, The Magazine will feature destinations, travel skills, travel trends, photography, niche markets, lifestyles and even some travel humour. You know, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Taking in the world from Table Mountain, Cape Town SA A friend of mine discovered a wonderful saying attributed to Confucius, the Chinese teacher and philosopher who lived around 500 BCE. "Read 10,000 Books...Travel 10,000 Miles". And while it seems to be a dying art, research can even involve speaking to real, live people who have already travelled to your destination of choice! Editor-in-Chief Once you have done your research then travel is more meaningful and relevant, no matter what your motivation may be. Today's travellers seek experiences ranging from pure and total leisure to absolute adventure, and everything in between. They want to exercise their passion for activities that are meaningful to themselves and not necessarily restricted to a generalized packaged tour. Culinary, Luxury, Adventure, Culture, Sustainability, Giving Back...these are some of the themes that resonate on a cross-generational basis with people who love to travel. Talking Travel: The Magazine is owned, operated and published by Steve Gillick, Talking Travel. All Rights Reserved. Protected by International and Canadian Copyright Law. Talking Travel: The Magazine can be shared, forwarded, cut and pasted but not sold, resold or in any way monetized. Permission is required for the use of any images or content from Talking Travel: The Magazine. ©Steve Gillick Please note that: Steve Gillick and Talking Travel are not responsible for outcomes based on how the ideas presented in this Magazine are interpreted or used. Talking Travel, The Magazine, 500 Duplex Ave., Ste 2210, Toronto, ON Canada M4R 1V6 Subscribe for Free: [email protected]