Is Social Media Ruining the Travel Experience?

Travel Photography

The massive growth of Instagram, social media, and travel blogs in recent years has had a profound impact on how we travel. Not all of it positive. Has travel changed forever?

As someone who makes a living as a travel blogger and photographer, inspiring others to travel, this topic has been on my mind a lot lately.

Over the last 9 years I’ve witnessed first-hand how travel destinations have become overwhelmed by tourists and Instagram selfie-seekers, many of whom seem to be destroying the places they visit.

In fact, I’m part of the problem. And I don’t know how I feel about that.

As you’ll see below, this is a multi-faceted issue, with many different components involved. Social media isn’t the only culprit.

But how do we fix it? Is it even possible, or are we too late?

Overcrowding at Famous Destinations

Overtourism Is A Problem

Tourism helps drive local economies, and countries spend a great deal of time and money attracting travelers to their destinations for that very reason.

But there can also be too much of a good thing. The phenomenon is called “overtourism”, and it’s beginning to take a toll on local communities, and even entire countries.

Tourism helped save Iceland after its 2008 financial crisis. But now many residents have had enough. Since 2010, the number of visitors has more than quadrupled — putting a ton of strain on infrastructure and the environment.

Just 800 people visited Norway’s picturesque Trolltunga “Troll’s Tongue” viewpoint in 2010, while 80,000 people made the hike in 2016. This massive surge of tourism (and rescue missions for those unprepared for the 10 hour trek) was fueled in a large part by social media.

Recent protests in Venice and Barcelona showcase what unchecked tourism is doing to these popular European cities. Neighborhoods become too expensive for locals as investors buy up apartments to rent out to tourists.

More People Are Traveling

Over the past 10 years tourism in general has surged, driven by a rising middle class around the world. This is especially true for emerging economies like China and India.

With more disposable income to spend, millions of new travelers are hitting the road and collecting photos for their Instagram feeds.

Travel has become more affordable and accessible too, with budget airlines like WOW Air and alternative accommodation options like Airbnb.

Studies have shown that Millennials prioritize experiences over possessions, and 72% of millennials say they are planning to travel more, compared with 59% of Gen Xers and 40% of Baby Boomers.

Travel is just hot right now. While the world saw 500 million international travelers in 1995, it has swelled to a massive 1.3 billion tourists in 2017 — and is growing even faster.

For those of us who’ve been promoting the benefits of travel, hey it’s actually working! But there have been consequences…

Many of these new travelers are visiting the same handful of destinations, creating some massive issues with overcrowding. The tourist experience itself is deteriorating due to long lines and a lack of patience.

Social Media Influences People

The Power Of Social Media

If you still don’t think social media has the power to influence people, you’ve got some catching up to do. A new report by Fullscreen & Shareablee shows just how powerful it is.

“Almost half (42%) of 18-34 report trying a product recommended by an influencer, and more than one-quarter (26%) say they have actually made a purchase based on a recommendation.”

Another study by the University of Georgia highlights the “bandwagon effect” and the “snob effect” that social media has on travel.

Some people choose their destinations based on what’s currently trending, while others try to be “cool” by picking destinations that aren’t as popular. Either way, social media is influencing their decisions.

[su_note note_color=”#DCEFF5″ text_color=”#333333″ radius=”3″ class=””]I personally found this study interesting, because I try to do a combination of these two things as a strategy for my business. Highlighting a mix of popular and “undiscovered” places. LOL![/su_note]

The town of Wanaka, New Zealand saw a massive 14% increase in tourism to its region when it focused on inviting social media influencers to visit, far surpassing traditional marketing methods.

Social media is very effective at inspiring people to purchase plane tickets, book hotels, and visit the same locations as the influencers they follow.

Just Taking a Shark Selfie to Show Off…

Selfish Selfie Culture

When the crusaders reached Jerusalem, they visited the tomb of Jesus at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and proceeded to carve graffiti into the walls in order to say “I was here.”

Humans have always been a selfish bunch. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is the tools we use to feed our narcissism.

In the 12th century, it was a medieval dagger. In the 1980’s, it was polaroid cameras and those agonizing family slideshows full of bad travel snapshots.

Just check out photographer Martin Parr’s 1990’s coffee table book Small World if you need reminding what tourism was like before Facebook.

These days, we’re simply using Instagram, Facebook, and selfie-sticks to more effectively indulge in our narcissism, and to a larger audience.

Look at me! I’m so worldly & cultured, right? Like & comment if you agree!

We have to make our mark somehow, to feed those egotistical tendencies — and carving graffiti with daggers is no longer allowed.

Chichen Itza? Check!

A Checklist Mentality

Famous places are famous for a reason. They’re beautiful. Or strange. They have historic or cultural value. You’ll probably want to see them for yourself, and take a photo, just like countless others before you.

This isn’t new to Instagram. As someone who was shooting travel photos before Instagram was a thing, just look at any postcard rack and you’ll see many of the same famous locations on display.

People have been holding up the Leaning Tower Of Pisa for 30+ years.

The only difference is that our travel photos are public now. No longer hidden away in family photo albums.

Instagram has become a publicly accessible bucket-list of places you NEED to visit, fueling a FOMO (fear of missing out) attitude. We’re trying too hard to impress everyone with our list.

Taj Mahal? Chichen Itza? Great Wall Of China?

Been there, done that. Got the t-shirt (and Instagram photo) to prove it.

The Algorithm

Instagram’s algorithm pushes certain types of images to the top of your feed because they naturally get the most attention. Epic landscapes. Colorful sunsets. Famous attractions. Bikini bottoms on white sand beaches.

Even if you want to see other kinds of photography, the algorithm makes it difficult, because those images get buried at the bottom of your feed.

While you can certainly ignore the algorithm, and post whatever the hell you want, those photos most likely won’t be seen by your followers.

So people who are trying to “make it big” on Instagram and get the most likes and followers — keep posting the same damn things over and over again, because they work.

It’s a vicious cycle that leads to the repetition of un-inspiring images that you’ve already seen 100 times before.

Photography is Booming! (Source: Statista)

Everyone’s A Photographer Now

The hobby of photography has grown exponentially over the past few years with technology like digital cameras, smartphones, and online storage and sharing of images through social media.

This means there are simply far more photos of everything now.

It’s estimated that 1.2 trillion digital photos were taken in 2017.

Photography has become more accessible to more people. Everyone and their grandmother is attempting to jockey into position for a memorable shot with their iPhone, iPad, or travel camera.

Countless professionals and non-professionals are sharing free photography how-to YouTube videos online. More of us are getting excited about photography than ever before!

Which is great — as long as we’re following the rules, and not causing a nuisance for others.

Unfortunately, with so many new enthusiasts, there’s a lot of ignorance about common photography etiquette too.

For example, walking directly into other people’s shots, or taking too long to capture a photo when there’s a line of others waiting their turn.

Not Illegal, But Not The Smartest Thing I’ve Done…

Destructive Human Nature

While the rise of Instagram and social media has certainly contributed to the problems, we can’t discount the powerful effects of human nature, ignorance, and our tendency to trash the environment.

Social media has just amplified these consequences to new levels.

When a small sunflower farm in Canada was overwhelmed with visitors due to Instagram, police were called in to shut down the roads and protect the farm from further destruction.

When two women began arguing over a photo-op at Italy’s most famous fountain, it soon escalated into a violent brawl.

Members of a popular group of YouTube/Instagram stars who were jailed for breaking multiple laws in pursuit of fame tragically died while attempting more stunts.

But this has been happening before Instagram too. For years people have been climbing Mount Everest, risking death for bragging rights, all while destroying the mountain with trash and human waste.

Make Money – Make Money, Money

Travel Influencers & Money

The “Rick Steves Effect“. The “Lonely Planet Effect”. Even National Geographic. The ability to make a profit through travel writing and photography has always had both positive and negative outcomes.

Introducing millions of people to a new place and inspiring them to visit can inject a lot of money into a region. It can create new jobs for locals. It can broaden the minds of travelers who make the journey.

But it can also wreak havoc and chaos if the destination isn’t ready for the onslaught of tourism that follows.

The internet broke down barriers to entry into this world, allowing anyone to become a travel photographer, travel writer, or YouTube video host.

It’s how I got started 9 years ago creating this travel blog — chasing a dream, with no professional training.

As the world consumed more news and entertainment online, advertising dollars followed. Myself and many others have been able to make a good living sharing our travel adventures via social media.

Would you believe I’m able to charge up to $4000 for a single Instagram photo? Or $15,000 for a destination marketing campaign? Others with more reach can earn even more…

Suddenly, getting the perfect photo isn’t just a hobby, it’s a job. And more people become fixated on chasing dollar signs than having a real travel experience.

Iceland Before the Crowds

Yes, I’m Part Of The Problem

I’m fully aware of the irony of being a tourist myself, complaining about other tourists. And the further irony that I’m making a living doing it in the process.

While helping to promote these destinations to a wide audience as part of my business, they eventually get overwhelmed.

I’m not so egotistical to think that my content alone created these problems, but I certainly share some of the blame.

Example #1

Back in 2014 I traveled to Iceland for the first time, renting a campervan and driving the country’s Ring Road. I wrote an article about my experience, which has been read over a million times by other travelers.

One location I mentioned was completely altered after my visit. Due to a surge of disrespectful tourists, the Sólheimasandur airplane trail was closed down to vehicles and the plane itself was wrecked by graffiti.

Example #2

Back in 2013 I visited a special monastery in Thailand where monks would give you a traditional Sak Yant tattoo, etched by hand, in exchange for a $3 donation. Filled with locals, and a few tourists, the experience was very authentic and cool.

However after word got around and the activity became super popular, the site turned into a gimmicky tattoo factory, with regular dudes doing the work (no longer monks), and charging upwards of $120 USD.

So What’s The Solution?

Do travelers with “influence” need to be more careful about what they share online? Or will no location remain pristine and undiscovered for long, regardless of what we do?

Do governments need to do a better job managing their tourists, spending more money on enforcing laws, permit systems, sustainability, and infrastructure — rather than tourism marketing?

Or are we just undergoing an unstoppable change in how the world travels — due to a combination of population growth, a rising worldwide middle class, and our already narcissistic nature combined with social media?

I really don’t know. Maybe there isn’t a solution. But I’m hoping that together we can at least acknowledge that there’s something troubling going on, and maybe try to do our own small part to make a difference.

• Pick up some trash on your next adventure.
• Observe posted signs and local customs.
• Read up on travel photography etiquette.
• Put down your camera from time to time.
• Shame & report those who aren’t following rules.
• Learn more about the people and places you visit.
• Don’t treat travel as a competition or checklist.
• Be aware your actions may have negative consequences.

If you agree that something needs to change, please share this article. Awareness and discussion are the first steps! ★

Enjoy This Post? Pin It!

[su_row class=””]
[su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””]

[/su_column]
[su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””]

[/su_column]
[/su_row]

Do you think Instagram & social media is ruining travel? Can you share any additional examples? Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to share!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

Saving Elephants in Thailand

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Everyone wants to ride elephants in Thailand. Including me. That was until I spent the day at an elephant sanctuary and learned the disturbing truth about this popular activity.

Just imagine how incredible it would be to sit atop a massive 9 foot tall, 4-ton beast while lumbering your way through deep rivers and pristine jungle.

This is an experience many people dream about when planning to travel Southeast Asia on budget backpacking trip.

I couldn’t wait to get my photo riding on top of a massive elephant!

However, there’s a dark side to elephant tourism that many aren’t aware of…

Elephants taking a Dirt Shower

Elephant Nature Park

Elephant Nature Park (ENP) is a natural sanctuary tucked away in the beautiful jungles of Northern Thailand. Their mission is to protect & care for mistreated elephants rescued from the tourism and logging industries.

Increasing awareness and promoting sustainable elephant-friendly tourism is another goal. The park currently cares for 36 elephants on 250 acres of wilderness.

When I first arrived at ENP, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. How close could we get to the elephants? Could we touch them? Were they dangerous?

The only other time I’d seen an elephant outside a zoo was on Safari in South Africa, when one of them charged us! It was an intimidating experience.

Asian Elephants are Endangered

Elephant Nature Park’s Owner, Lek

Hanging Out With Giants

You get to participate in many fun elephant activities at ENP. I was able to feed them fresh fruit out of the palm of my hand, watch them play in the mud, go on walks with them, and even get into the river to help give them a bath!

Watching these gentle giants interact with each other is an inspirational travel experience.

They chat with friends and family members by chirping and trumpeting back and forth. You have a greater appreciation for how intelligent and social they really are.

You won’t find any elephant rides at Elephant Nature Park though. No circus tricks or elephant paintings either.

This is because the elephants here have been rescued from such places.

[su_row class=””]
[su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””]

Time for Lunch!

Swimming in the River

Plight Of The Asian Elephant

Asian elephants are an endangered species. Experts believe there are now less than 2000 wild elephants living in Thailand. The population is declining at a rapid rate due to loss of habitat.

Illegal capture and trade for use in the tourism industry is also a big problem.

This industry thrives because foreign visitors all want to ride elephants or watch them do tricks, paying good money for the privilege.

But the fact is those wild elephants need to be tamed before they can be ridden.

Except the taming process in Southeast Asia is not the same as with a wild horse.

It’s much more brutal and is accomplished when the elephants are very young.

I’d Follow a Basket of Bananas Too

Wash Elephants, Don’t Ride Them!

Baby Elephant Torture

Wild elephants generally won’t let humans ride on top of them. So in order to tame a wild elephant, it is tortured as a baby to completely break its spirit.

The process is called Phajaan, or “the crush”.

It involves ripping baby elephants away from their mothers and confining them in a very small space, like a cage or hole in the ground where they’re unable to move.

The baby elephants are then beaten into submission with clubs, pierced with sharp bull-hooks, while starved and deprived of sleep for many days.

You can watch a disturbing video of the process if you’re curious. Photographer Brent Lewin won an award for capturing this haunting image of the torture.

Baby Elephant Swimming

Elephant Trekking In Thailand

Elephant mistreatment doesn’t stop after they’ve been tamed. Many elephant camps continue to employ bull-hooks to control the animals.

While they may not be stabbing them constantly as they did during the training, it’s that deep learned fear of being stabbed that’s used to motivate them to work.

Always remember, elephants never forget.

If an elephant camp in Southeast Asia is claiming to be “responsible” with its animals, you should still be skeptical.

The process used to train them is often the same, even if they’re treated with kindness now. And usually, there is no way to be sure what’s going on when tourists go home.

Did you know that riding elephants can actually cause serious long-term harm too? Their spines are not made to support the weight of humans. I know it’s hard to believe given their size, but Zebras are the same way.

Baby Elephant Playing in River

Save The Elephant Foundation

Founder Lek Chailert has been fighting to save the elephants and change her country’s acceptance of their treatment since she was a young girl.

Lek created Elephant Nature Park to rescue mistreated elephants from the tourist trade and give them a better life.

The park provides day trips and week-long volunteer opportunities allowing tourists to interact with and learn about elephants responsibly.

As a registered Thai nonprofit foundation, fees collected go towards feeding and caring for the massive creatures, purchasing additional elephants from their abusive owners, and expanding the size of the sanctuary itself.

A trip to Elephant Nature Park includes a graphic video presentation that helps shed some light on the secretive elephant tourism industry. It’s not easy to watch.

Elephants Enjoy Sunsets Too!

The Choice Is Up To You

Brutal elephant training has been a traditional practice in Southeast Asia for hundreds of years. The problem these days is that most captive elephants in Thailand are used to entertain tourists rather than for traditional purposes like logging or military use.

It’s our demand for elephant rides and circus acts that lead to more baby elephants getting captured from their mothers, tortured, and sold off to entertain us.

Whether you ride elephants in Thailand or not is your choice. I try my best not to judge others because I’m acutely aware that we all have different moral codes & standards.

Most people who participate in elephant tourism in Thailand are completely unaware of how they are treated.

I know many friends who have ridden elephants. It’s easy to understand why people do it. I almost rode an elephant myself.

I simply wanted to share what I’ve learned after my own elephant experience in Thailand, to help you make a more informed decision moving forward. ★

Watch Video: Elephant Whisperer

[su_box title=”Travel Planning Resources For Thailand” style=”noise” box_color=”#333333″ title_color=”#FFFFFF” radius=”3″ class=”resource-box”]
Company: Elephant Nature Park

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Book cheap flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to find deals. Also read my tips for how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking cheap hotels.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.

Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Thailand
Suggested Reading: When Elephants Weep
[/su_box]

Enjoy This Post? Pin It!

Do you still want to ride an elephant? How does this information make you feel? Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to share!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

The Environmental Impacts of Travel

Travel is a selfish & environmentally destructive activity. Over 60% of US citizens do not have passports. Guess what? They are helping to protect the environment more than you are.

This post isn’t going to win me a lot of new friends. :)

But our dirty-little travel secret has-to be exposed. It’s for your own good. Living in denial isn’t healthy.

While I certainly haven’t been traveling for very long, I’ve started to notice a trend in the backpackers circuit. Many from our group seem to consider themselves “above-average” when it comes to general environmental & social awareness.

A large percentage take pride in eating locally-grown organic food, volunteering in poor communities, and might make a scene if locals throw trash out a public bus window onto the street.

That’s great. I’m generally all for social & environmentally responsible behavior. But there’s one little fact many seem to be blissfully ignorant about:

Our personal travel addictions are creating more environmental & social destruction than our friends & family back home who don’t travel very much.

EXAMPLE #1

A round-the-world plane ticket consumes more fuel in one year than the same typical year of driving at home. This of course doesn’t even take into account all the taxis, buses, and trains you’ll still need to use for transportation at your foreign destinations.

Neither does it factor in the greater environmental impact of exhaust fumes getting released at 30,000 ft vs. on the highway.

“But I don’t use round-the-world tickets.”

It doesn’t matter. Even one round-trip flight is more harmfull. When you get to your destination, you will still use other forms of fossil-fuel based transportation. Rather than burn those extra gallons of jet fuel and expel the toxic exhaust into the atmosphere, you could have stayed home and taken a public bus (or walked) to a local park.

While maybe not quite as fun, it would’ve been far more environmentally responsible.

EXAMPLE #2

Antarctica & the Galapagos Islands are said by many to be some of the most incredible places to visit on Earth. Unfortunately they won’t be around for very long in their current state, and it’s all due to us…

Tourists.

As tourism to both these pristine areas increases at ridiculous rates, the danger & destruction to the environment increases as well. Not a little, but a lot. Shuttling thousands of people in ships & aircraft filled with more thousands of gallons of fuel over fragile ecosystems at an ever increasing rate has consequences. And that’s just the obvious danger.

Animals are dying off in both these places as we speak. Our actions are causing extinctions. No one will ever see those plants & animals alive again.

“But travel teaches us to respect and protect these environments”.

At what price? While you will certainly receive a better education on conservation by visting these sites first-hand, you’re still contributing to their destruction in far greater ways than if you didn’t go at all.

And guess what? When people back home see your photos and hear your stories, a greater percentage of them will selfishly want to have the same first-hand experience as you. While not nearly as rewarding, watching a Discovery Channel feature about the area will teach you all you need to know about how incredible & fragile these places are.

No Discovery show about the location you want to visit yet? There will be. Just wait. There always is eventually. :)

EXAMPLE #3

The Bedouin are a group of nomadic people that live in the deserts of the Middle East. They live off the land in caves and traditional tents made of goat hair. Many have used the caves around the famous Jordanian site of Petra for generations.

In the 1920’s, the Jordanian government tricked the Bedul into giving up ownership of their land in return for a guarantee of rights for their occupation & use. But the government knew the site had huge income potential as a tourist location. They eventually kicked the Bedul out of their traditional homes, breaking the previous agreement, and relocated them to densely-packed concrete settlements.

As a result, their traditional way of life was practically wiped out.

“But I can’t control what foreign governments do”.

Actually, yes you can. In theory.

The reason the Bedouin people were kicked out was because the government saw dollar signs. Tourism is incredibly profitable. If that means wrecking the lives of a small group of local people and destroying a bit of the environment, so be it. The reward is greater than the cost (in their eyes).

If all of us stopped traveling to sites like Petra to spend our money, there would be less incentive for governments to do this kind of thing. Is that realistically going to happen? No. But just be aware that your personal desire to visit places like Petra, (along with millions of people just like you) is what entices governments to wreck the lives of locals that live there.

Had Enough?

I could go on with these examples all day. The fact is, no tourism is truly environmentally or socially responsible. Are you really prepared to blindly believe what a country’s tourism marketing department tells you in it’s paid advertisements? What about the for-profit tour agency, organization, or hotel that is trying to sell you something?

If that lets you sleep better at night, well…

All these places would have been 1000x more eco-friendly if they hadn’t been built at all. Someone is profiting from the destruction of the environment, and YOU are helping them. If we were really learning to protect the environment as we traveled, we’d stop traveling.

What’s the Solution?

Sadly there isn’t a good one. People are not going to stop traveling. One argument that frequently comes up is that tourism helps save some places from destruction. The money goes to restoring & protecting these fragile sites.

This is true. But if we all REALLY wanted to protect these areas, we’d insist on tourism caps and create insanely overpriced entry fees that would exclude all but the wealthiest 1% of the world from experiencing them.

Why not limit the number of visitors to the Galapagos Islands to 100 per year? Companies could charge $500,000 dollars per ticket. The resulting income could still go to preservation, only there would naturally be much less environmental impact…

Well, that’s not going to happen. We travelers are a selfish & destructive bunch. As much as we protest to care about socially and environmentally responsible behavior, it’s only true to a point. If said behavior happens to hinder our own ability to engage with these environments personally, well, that would be a deal-breaker.

Even if it’s truly better for the world around us.

Take Responsibility!

Personally, I believe I’m relatively aware of the destruction I’m causing to the environment. While I don’t necessarily like it, I’m prepared to continue traveling. I selfishly want to see these places in person before they are wiped out. Because eventually, they will be. Humankind has been destroying it’s own environment for many hundreds of years. To assume that suddenly our present generation will change all that, in my opinion, is pretty damn arrogant.

I admit it. I’m a selfish & environmentally destructive person. A traveler.

I’d just like to take a moment and suggest that my fellow travelers come out of the closet.

You are not an environmental superhero. In fact, you’re causing more problems by jet-setting around the world to see these places in person than your peers who either don’t care to, or can’t afford the luxury of world travel.

I’m not telling you to stop traveling. But if you decide to continue, at least admit to yourself that your travel lifestyle is selfish & destructive to the world around you. Please don’t hide behind a self-constructed wall of blissful ignorance. Most of all, if I catch you trying to pretend you are somehow better than others due to your so-called green way of life, I’m gonna call you out on it! Pound for pound (of carbon emissions), the locals throwing trash out their windows probably pollute less than you do…

To be completely frank: the whole situation is quite embarrassing. I thought ignorance was something we as travelers were looking to reverse!

If you really want a gold medal for your responsible travel practices,
try traveling the world by bicycle or walking. ;)

END RANT.

[su_box title=”Travel Planning Resources” style=”noise” box_color=”#333333″ title_color=”#FFFFFF” radius=”3″ class=”resource-box”]

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Book cheap flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to find deals. Also read my tips for how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking cheap hotels.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.
[/su_box]

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.