The Perfect Setup for Our Travel Memories | 2 of 3

Entering through a curtain of vines surrounded by shrubbery, you’re greeted by a variety of animals. As you explore, admiring them from the safety of a glass divide, you see the magnificent beast. A wide snout and jagged teeth, tail swishing behind fro and to. He looks like he’s smiling!

Snapping the photo with your iPhone, you step closer to the glass as he starts waddling his way over to you. Whether he’s actually interacting with you or not, you savor the moment. Waving and giggling. Talking to the creature as if he can hear you.

In the back of your mind, you remind yourself this memory must go into your travel journal.

Depending on the kind of trip you’re taking, the limitations you have in terms of luggage and your personal preferences, there’s a wide array of options for the journal you use to document your journey.

The Right Bundle

We can simplify our choices under two categories.

Lightweight to Extra Devices

1. Note-taking app. If you’re trying to pack light with limited luggage space, this may be the way to go. Camera & travel journal all-in-one! Just remember to take photos while documenting the words to go along with ‘em.For the journaling portion, you can use your phone’s / tablet’s standard issue Notes app or, if you’re like me, download Evernote. If you plan to use Evernote, create a new notebook separate from all your other notes to keep your digital landscape tidy.
2. Camera. Maybe your hands tend to cramp and the day’s excitement drains your energy before you can put pen to paper at night. Document your journey through vlogging (video blogging)! Some of my favorite travel vlogs are by Michelle Phan, like her trip to Vietnam and South Korea.If you have extra space, definitely bring along your DSLR or point-and-shoot. If you’d like to keep things simple, your smartphone will do the trick! On my last trip to Korea, my iPhone 6 captured my mini vlogs perfectly.
3. Voice Recorder. Oh, yeah. Reporter style, baby. Similar to vlogging but without the moving imagery. This might be for you if you’d rather not be in front of the lens. Like the last option, you can either bring a separate device (I used an RCA digital recorder in the past) or your handy-dandy smartphone!This works when trying to stay lightweight with the on-the-go feel so you can whip it out at a moment’s notice. Plus, recording is easier on the hands since we can talk faster than we can write or type.

Extra Gear

1. Laptop. Maybe this is a working trip and your laptop is tagging along anyway. You can create a folder of all the documents you can string together into an ebook at the end of your trip. Or maybe you can use a program like Scrivener to keep the memories in one place. Typing with all your fingers = win.
2. Journal. Ah, yes, good ol’ fashioned analog. Depending on the notebook you choose, this does add weight and take up space. However, I prefer this method because physically writing down your thoughts 1) gives you the chance to step away from technology for a break from screen time, and 2) allows your brain to unwind and slow down after the day’s amazingness. This method is definitely for those who appreciate a more zen-like approach. Plus, you can always go Slambook style for additional creative points.

Deciding the Best Setup for Your Trip

So consider the factors to see what’ll work best for you during your trip.

You might find your go-to method on the first try. Or maybe you’d like to give each trip a different method. Whatever floats your boat or flies your plan, make it happen. As long as you have a way to bring those memories to permanence.

Get it done. Write it down. Travel on.

This is the second article of a three-part Travel Journal series. Read the others:

• Why should I document my trip in a Travel Journal? | 1 of 3
• What should I write in my Travel Journal? | 3 of 3

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