Winners: Independence Travel Writing Contest

Winners: Independence Travel Writing Contest

Thank you to all our writers from our 2013 Independence Travel Writing Contest! One hundred and eighty-eight writers from thirty-one countries participated to write about seventy-three countries for our contest! The writers are from Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Republic … Continued

Nigeria: Calm Bar

Nigeria: Calm Bar Independence! That’s one thing I had always sort my whole life. I was not born into a life of cream, drug nor violence. But I just grew increasingly dissatisfied about living that right about when this essay began; I badly needed a specialist to keep living. So, as he gazed at me … Continued

Colorado, USA: A Gift of Snow

There’s a field off of a growing road in a growing town in central Colorado. For most of the year, that field sits between an underfunded public school and a fire station, within earshot of a busy highway. For most of the year, that field is dirt and dry-brush. A hiding place for snakes and … Continued

A Love Note to Mumbai, India

“Welcome to Mumbai International airport, the outside temperature is 30 degree Celsius…”, the landing announcement came on while my mind wandered off. I was 22, moving to Mumbai, often dubbed India’s own New York, from my small town down in South India. Unfamiliar faces and language was what was ahead, but I was thrilled. This … Continued

Birthday in New York

Birthday in New York, NY The trip to New York was a present to me on my fiftieth birthday and a good enough excuse to be extravagant so I booked my stay at a popular expensive hotel in Times Square, the pulsating hub of Manhattan. Over weeks, I’d been jotting entries in my red notebook … Continued

Malaysia: Driving Blind in Kuala Lumpur

We drove to Kuala Lumpur so we could catch a flight to China the next morning. There was no point in staying at an expensive hotel in the city centre. The Family Hotel in Klang was a little old, but the shabby flooring and fixtures were clean. I had arranged to meet a friend at … Continued

The Pace of Freedom in Brookings, Oregon

Freedom is slow. It lacks the weariness and worry of the workday. Freedom strolls through the hours as if it had all the time in the world. Every moment seems to matter and to sharpen into clarity. No more the wicked counting of minutes. No more the squeal of the alarm clock. No more the … Continued

Philippines: Biking Bohol

Comprising more than 7000 islands, the Republic of the Philippines offers travellers an extensive catalogue of potential experiences: From hiking the ancient rice terraces of Sagada to rafting the rapids at Pagsanjan; from climbing dormant volcanoes to diving diverse reefs. With so many headline attractions, it can be difficult to decide how to spend one’s … Continued

‘Walking’ the Freedom Trail

On Valentine’s Day, 2011 I took my oath as a US citizen at the young age of 62. My husband Bill and I were in our second year of RVing across North America. We have the freedom to be where we want to be, do what we want to do. As we were going up … Continued

Freedom Fairy Tales – Malta

In the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, slightly below Sicily, rests Malta, the largest island in the Maltese archipelago. Valletta, the capital of Malta, is a fortified city built on Mount Sceberras between two harbors with defense in mind during the architectural planning. Walking through the entrance is like being magically transported back in time … Continued

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