E-zine November 2007
LIVE YOUR LIFE NEWSLETTER
Editor's Note - November 2007:
Just like the backpackers out there who strive to wake up in a different bed every morning, I like new experiences. I like attempting the impossible yoga positions that ultimately end in a world of pain and I also like the opportunities to meet, audition and work with the hottest new travel writers of this generation.I'm very pleased to announce the addition of not one but two new columnists to the Live Your Life E-zine in November. Allow me to pleasurably introduce Kristin Buzelli as she weighs in as our ear to the ground in Berlin and Kalon Huett - who's going to be giving me a hand with the ever expanding social skyline in London. Kristin and Kalon join the multi talented travel team behind this publication and it's great to have them on board.
In other travel writing related news I interviewed Tom Hall of Lonely Planet fame. The Editor of Lonely Planet's Travellers Tips took time out from his multi-media obligations and chatted to me about getting started, his favourite reads on the road, bio-metric scanning, terrorism and bodysnatching.
The Top 5 Reads takes a cynical turn for the best, the Hot Hostel Competition moves on from Newquay to Bath and the Top Ten takes us through a retrospective wormhole as we analyse just how many millions of people were reached when St Christopher's took part in the environmentally friendly Blog Action Day.
Our free Travel Book extract this month opens up South Africa with the first chapter of John Malathronas' Rainbow Diary, Kano gets the literary equivalent of a bitch slap from DJ Michelle in Music Mashup and as we travel ethically around the world Jen Page breaks down Fair Trade and their attempt to get a better deal for everyone.
As I promised way back in the short lived midst of the British Summer time, the mass abseil off the Tyne Bridge has been revisited in Charities. I'd like to personally congratulate everyone who took part in this fantastic event which not only raised awareness but also a great big honking chunk of cash to help the wonderful work of the Macular Disease Society.
Last but by no means least our Write Around the World Competition blows the lid off fledgling tourism in Albania, Backpacker Bites searches out that ever elusive hangover cure and Beauty Terrorist takes us in and out of the Dubai bubble before exploring the delights of skin care with Dermalogica.
Don't forget to keep your iPod tuned into the online store for our regular auditory travel updates and most importantly if you're in the UK, please join me in celebrating the return of the mighty Wispa chocolate bar. This will do to you what Cassanova did to several Czech audiences. Until next time.
- Rob Savage
Top Features
Travel Top 10
Hey hey, we may not have completely saved the world today but we did take part in an environmental Blog Action Day that reached more than fourteen million readers. Here's the aftermath.
Interview
He might be busy with a column in the Observer, his commentaries on the BBC and the editorial responsibilities that go with the Lonely Planet's Travellers Tips but Tom Hall is never too busy to talk to you guys.
St Christopher's Podcast
They went away for a little while but now Rob and Eoin are back with a bigger and better Podcast than ever before. There's travel competitions, great reads, events guides and much more so plug in now.Monthly Features
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Beauty Terrorist
Take charge of your complexion with Climate Control and a few other choice products as Beauty Terrorist soldiers on. -
Top 5 Traveller Reads
The best books on the open road brought to you by the top publishers. -
Write Around the World
Find out what happens when you pay ten Euros and cross the border into Albania. -
Ethical Travel
Get to grips with Fair Trade, their products and the work they do to get a better deal for everyone. -
Backpacker Bites
Stay healthy on the road without a gym membership in every port of call. -
Music Mashup
DJ Michelle belts it out with her take on Kano, a rather special album launch and the top five albums of November. -
Charities
We revisit the brave souls who jumped off the Tyne Bridge to help the Macular Disease Society. -
Travel Book
Get to grips with South Africa with the first chapter of Rainbow Diary from John Malathronas. -
Snap For a Nap
Send in your best photos and win two nights at one of our hostel
Credits:
Editor-in-Chief - Robert Savage
Graphic Design and Layout - Eoin Norton
Feature Writers:
Amsterdam Columnist - Kathleen Steeden
Backpacker Bites - James McDonald
Berlin Columnist - Kristin Buzzelli
Bruges Columnist - Eva Dam
Charities Correspondent - David Haw
Ethical Travel - Jen Page
London Columnist - Kalon Huett
Music Mashup - Michelle Mangal
Write Around The World - Kalon Huett
Thank you to:
Dermalogica, The English Theatre of Bruges, Greenwich Playhouse, The Lyric, Scholastic, Penguin, Summersdale, Rough Guides, Faber and Faber, Tom Hall, Louise McDonald, John Malanthronas, Emily Clarke, The Macular Disease Society, Fair Trade and the Blog Action Day Organisers
When it comes to sweet backpacking mementoes, photos can only do so much. That’s why you need to grab a St Christopher’s T-Shirt. This way so you can wear your good times, day in and day out. They’re bright and affordable just like the stars of St Christopher’s. You can also crack open your beer bottles, lie on a sun drenched beach and keep your coffee hot, with the help of St Christopher’s Inns. Check out our Online Store for some bargain basement deals.
Remember your time with the St Christopher's crew with some top quality merchandise. Just let us know what you want to buy. submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
Female Travel : Beauty Terrorist
Pollution Solution
Different climates from day to day, ever increasing pollution levels and oily residue is unfortunately a part of the backpacking routine. This rarely compliments your complexion so Beauty Terrorist has teamed up with skin specialists Dermalogica to zap those zits and make you beautiful across borders.
Tell us your top beauty tips when you hit the open road. Just send them to us at submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
Top 5 Travel Reads
Reads on the road
This is a sad month for the travel reading world. Not only does the top five finish its review of Philip Pullman's dark materials but it also polishes off the final tale from travel writer extraordinaire John Malathronas. But when one door closes another always opens and we're excited to be exploring the psychologically scary world of Irvin D. Yalom in Love's Executioner. We think this could the start of something beautiful.
Got a top tip for a good read? Just send them to us at submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
Write around the world: Travel story
Write for a night: Don't abandon Albania
This month our new London columnist makes his mark - not only in our events guide but also as the winning entry in our travel writing competition.
Join Kalon Huett as he pays his way into Albania, reviews the architectural cold war relics, experiences old school hospitality and generally has a jolly good time. Rather.
Try your hand at travel writing, send us your submission and if we publish it you get two free nights in a St. Christopher's hostel. E-mail travelwriters@st-christophers.co.uk
Travel Book Extract
Rainbow Extract
You've been teased with reviews of John Malathronas' Singapore Swing and Brazil – Life, Blood, Soul in the past two E-zines, so now we're accompanying the Rainbow Diary review with a free extract. This is the unadulterated first chapter, entitled Tina Turner: Pretoria. It's quick witted, entertaining and fingers crossed, we'll have a sit down chat with the author himself in December's Interview Time.
Recommend your favourite travel books to submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
Interview
Lonely Planet's: Tom Hall
We only serve up the very best interviews on our literary platter and this month that meant a long chat with Lonely Planet Editor – Tom Hall. He got a grilling about temping, his first publication, working outside of Lonely Planet, London on a shoestring, his top literary picks and a whole lot more. It would spoil it if we put everything in here so you'll just have to read it for yourself.
Ethical Travel
Fair Trade
It's one thing to ask for Fair Trade coffee when you grab a take away from Starbucks but beyond that it's important to know the scope and scale of the Fair trading Empire. We charged Ethical Travel writer Jen Page with the task of researching this worth while cause and charting out how much you can help.
Recommend your favourite travel books to submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
Europe's Famous Hostels
The days are getting shorter, the nights have that undeniable edge in the air and the sandals have definitely been retired to in house use only. Summer is officially over so what is a self respecting sun worshiper to do? The Caribbean may be a bit out of reach for most budgets but there are still a few destinations within Europe where you can stretch out that summer vibe.
One example is the Pink Palace in Corfu which has been catering to the winter blues for years. This was chosen as a member of Europe's Famous Hostels because it's renowned for the great Greek vibe, crystal waters and the fantastic fun - on offer. Every visitor is immediately inducted into the Greek way of life with a shot of Ouzo when they arrive. This warms you up as you head to your room, past the common area and the poolside. Be sure to read through the winter specials at the Pink Palace so you can top up that tan for a few days longer.For more information visit http://www.famoushostels.com
St Christopher's Top 10
The Top TEN Travel Tips - Sustainable Travel
In honour of the green efforts which occurred on Blog Action Day, we decided to give you a second chance to acquaint your eyeballs with the sustainable travel blog that we put together for the occasion. We explored biking it for free in Bruges, the evil shockwaves of dry cleaning and the redirection of travel funds to offset your carbon flight emissions - while still having a good old tourist time.
If you've got a great Top 10 fill us in. The world is full of travellers looking for the next big adventure so give them a helping hand. Send your submissions to submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
Backpacker Bites
Alcohol Abuse
If you have ever regained consciousness after a particularly potent evening of propping up the bar and felt like there are several thousand minute miners hammering on the inside of your cranium, then you're going to love this. Resident health expert James McDonald explores the bodily after effects of excessive alcoholic exposure and throws in his opinion about the hangover cures that so many people swear by.
Got a health related question, comment or smart remark? We're here to listen, so send us an email. submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
Music Mashup
November Noise
Join DJ Michelle as she reflects on her night with Kano, Skepta's Greatest Hits Album Launch and this month's top five albums. We like writing with a little bit of a venomous edge and Miss Michelle never holds back with the good stuff. Inside you'll find out which songs hit the spot and which tracks should be confined to a performance with a hairbrush and a mirror.
Expand our musical vocabulary by sharing your top tune tips - submissions@st-christophers.co.uk
Snap for a Nap
Open our eyes with your Travel Photos
Send your happiest photographic memories into the crew at St Christopher’s for your chance to win two free nights of accommodation, for you and a friend at any of our hostels. We want to see your history in the making and if your snaps put others to shame, then you’ll get our vote.
Got a health related question, comment or smart remark? We're here to listen, so send us an email. submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
Travel Charities
The Blind Truth
Back in July we ran a feature on Macular Disease – the biggest cause of blindness in the UK. One hundred people were set to jump off the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle - to raise awareness and money for the charity combating this so we sent charities correspondent David back to the North East to see how they got on. Here's his take on the incredible organisers and the ripples this spectacular event caused across the United Kingdom.
We're here to listen about the charities that matter to you so submissions@st-christophers.co.uk.
Gap Year Plus Card
This amazing little piece of plastic allows you to add credit when ever you want, it can be used at over 14,000 UK locations including any post office branch and you can have your wages paid straight onto it.This Chip and Pin pre paid Mastercard is a masterpiece for the international backpacker and it gives you great travel offers, discounts, emergency transfer capabilities and fraud protection. For all the info visit www.gapyearcard.com
