BAYSIDE residents shared their experience of over-tourism, slow travel, responsible travel and “travel by the book” when they gathered for the first Travellers’ Tales event at Wynnum Library last Wednesday.
One enthusiastic traveller, Marinela Radanovic, originally from the country previously known as Yugoslavia, told of her disappointment when returning to her former homeland, but welcomed the opportunity recently of discovering “spiritual tourism”, spending time in Thailand visiting Buddhist temples.
She also recommended the book Awaken from Darkness by Paul Levy as it helped her find her “creative spirit” and travel with “wellness in mind”.
Travel writer Ken Hickson, who started the discussion group in Wynnum, as he has a column in an international travel magazine called Travellers’ Tales, pointed to the trend towards responsible tourism, where local cultures, the arts and the environment are enhanced by travellers and not damaged.
Another regular traveller, Julia Ponder, drew attention to the value of “slow travel”, in sharing her experience of a leisurely cruise on the River Danube in Europe. She also pointed to several books which had drawn attention to other destinations, as well as inspired her to go on more travel journeys.
She recommended 111 Places you should visit in Paris and Plains of Passage, which she was sure you
could get from your local library.
The value of travel within Australia was also stressed by attendees, and Ms Ponder recommended The Songlines by well-known international travel writer Bruce Chatwin, which tells how Aboriginals passed the songs which revealed the creation of the land and the secrets of its past.
Besides books which inspire and encourage travel to discover places new and old, one of the attendees, John Phillips, told how travel has inspired him to write.
A member of the Writers of Wynnum (WOW), Mr Phillips shared with fellow travellers and book lovers one of his stories Train Journey – Prague to Berlin.
Mr Hickson reinforced this and encouraged all to write about their travel experiences, whether by sending postcards, reporting on social media, writing articles or even books.
Author of seven books, he noted that all included some mention of travel and tourism, with one in particular – Flight 901 to Erebus – about a fateful sightseeing journey by DC10 jet to the Antarctic in 1979, which never returned.
Countries which take a responsible approach to tourism were mentioned by members, drawing attention the Bhutan in the Himalayas, and Japan.
Jo Walters, who has travelled to many places, told fellow travellers that she was most impressed with the way Japan has enhanced its cultures and environment through tourism, for locals and foreigners alike.
She also recalled her visit to the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu in Peru, where ancient monuments and treasures of the Inca culture has been protected and preserved, at the same time made accessible for responsible travellers.
The next Travellers’ Tales event at Wynnum Library will be on Wednesday, May 14, from 9.30-11.30am.
The library could not schedule the event in its busy calendar in April due to the timing of school holidays and Easter.
