Travels

Podcasting & Travel

Posted on by baileyadams19

Although to some podcasts may seem unpopular or maybe boring, there are so many new podcasts these days to prove these people wrong. What is a podcast you may ask? Well, it is a series or episode of digital audio which a listener can download to listen to. Podcasts were first created in the early 2004’s by two friends, Dave Winer and Adam Curry, and thanks to them sparked the evolution to where podcasts are today.

Adams Curry and Dave Winer

Nowadays downloading a new podcast is quite simple and there are three different ways in which you could consume the product. First, by listening on the web directly without even  having to download it or subscribe. Next, by downloading a single podcast and not having to subscribe or stream it. Finally, by subscribing to a podcast it will automatically download new episodes to your device or download when you are on WiFi and then you are free to listen. What makes these podcasts so nice and what generates the appeal about them is that they are portable. As listeners we chose where to listen to a recording and when we want to. While looking into more information about podcasts, I came across a few interesting ones regarding travel I thought  I would share.

Amateur Traveler Travel Podcast

This podcast is created by Chris Christensen and strives to answer the question “where should you go next and what should you see, do and eat there?” All the questions that a traveler wants to know the answers to. His podcasts ranges from places in India, to Italy, New Zealand, and even a road trip on Route 66. The typical length of an episode is 50 minutes but can range from 30 minutes to over an hour depending on the content. I recommend this to anyone who likes to know a little history before they travel somewhere and knowing what to do to make the most of your trip.

JUMP with Traveling Jackie

Let Traveling Jackie,  formerly known as The Budget-Minded Traveler, take you through different places in the world to not only give you travel tips, but to give you the inspiration you need to make that next JUMP on your next travel endeavor. Each episode consists of Jackie interviewing a guest about their experiences traveling which leads to the listener gaining the  knowledge they need for their next travel. I highly recommend this podcast to anyone who is hesitant to go on a big travel trip or has a lot of question they want answered before jetting off.

Zero To Travel

Travel expert Jason Moore’s weekly podcast Zero To Travel is perfect for anyone interested in listening to stories about travel based work or travel lifestyle and business opportunities. This podcast is ideal for all ranges of travel experience. If you are a newbie you will  get good advice and tips on how to budget and travel safety tips and if you are a full-time traveler you will learn ways to be able to keep up what you are doing. His podcasts range from having guests come on and talk about their different journeys, or just him speaking about his own.

These are just a few of the good ones I came across. They can be found on iTunes and Spotify. I hope you enjoy and have fun on your search for your perfect podcast!

Underrated Must Do’s of Paris

Posted on by baileyadams19

When it comes to Paris, there are an abundant of things you must do and see. But aside from the classic things you should do when you’re there, there are many other things the city has to offer. After returning from my weekend trip I was shocked to hear that my other friends who had visited Paris before me did not have the time or did not know to do any of these activities. Thus, I’ve decided to make my own guide on the things that if you go to/do, you will NOT be disappointed.

 

Palace of Versailles

To begin is the Palace of Versailles. This was the royal residence of  France for almost a century up to the start of the French Revolution. If you are a history junkie like myself, this place will be heaven for you. It is filled with so many knowledge and let’s face it, the palace is unbelievably beautiful. Although it is not directly in Paris itself, it was only a forty minute drive away. When I went we ubered there and back since it was a spur of  the moment activity for us, but if you were to plan it ahead of a time you could take a bus, train, etc. I highly recommend this if you have a free morning in the city as it truly is a breath-taking place.

 

Moulin Rouge

Next is something very different, a Moulin Rouge show. My friend who I was traveling with was the one who initially signed us up for this and said that we had to do it. When we arrived to the venue we were seated at a table and given a bottle of champagne to enjoy while

 we watched the show. The lights when down and before I knew it the stage was filled with dozens of women in crazy outfits dancing and singing. In between their performances there were small

er acts that were mind-blowing to me. From contortionists, to swimming with snakes, to an insane rollerblading act, I felt like I was in the audience of America’s Got Talent. My friend and I both left speechless and had a great experience.

William Shakespeare Book Store

If you are a bookworm like myself, you will be able to spend hours and hours on end in this bookstore. The store is located right across the street of the famous Notre Dame Cathedral and opened in the 1950’s. When we first went in it was a little crowded since the hallways are pretty narrow and it is a popular place, but as you explore you find there are many different rooms and levels to pass your time in. The books range from new to secondhand, fiction to nonfiction, bestsellers to old hidden gems, and everything in between. On the top-level of the store there are a few rooms with chairs that serve as a library to the public. You can sit back and take in all the character of the store while enjoying a nice book as well.

Picnic In Front of the Eiffel Tower

Although this isn’t something uncommon to do while in Paris, I had such a lovely time I had to include it. Unfortunately, the weekend we were visiting the weather was not in our favor and from time to time it would start to downpour. Because of this we had to improvise and instead of having a picnic in the grass we enjoyed our lovely spread of food on a bench. Before heading to the Eiffel Tower we stopped at a local store and bought a baguette, some meat and cheese, and some grapes to top it off. Once getting to the park that surrounds the Eiffel Tower we spotted a bench with a great view and took a seat. The people watching here was very entertaining and being able to take in the beauty of the Eiffel Tower while munching away was a very nice touch.

 

I hope these tips help you plan your weekend away in Paris and give you a nice twist to your itinerary. I promise they will not disappoint!

Mobile Journalism – Pro’s & Con’s

Posted on by baileyadams19

Have you ever wondered how some news reporters are so quick to get the latest news out to their viewers? Or have you ever seen a journalist reporting to a smartphone on a tripod?  If so, you might’ve been witnessing someone using Mobile Journalism instead of the traditional big newsroom. The great thing about Mobile Journalism is that the only truly necessary tool you need is the smartphone itself. If you have a device that can record video/audio and allow you to edit the video you are taking, you can create and publish video at the speed of light.

Tools of Mobile Journalism

This new revolution is very useful in society today as it is cheaper, gives you the freedom to record anything at anytime, and be able to report on the go. This is very handy for someone like me who, especially this semester, is always on the go. For example, if I was away for the weekend I would be able to use my phone to create and edit a video of the things I’m doing, food I’m eating, and my favorite places to see and be able to publish it swiftly. However, with all these positives of mobile journalism comes a few negatives. Often times while recording if you don’t have the right equipment the stability of the camera, the lighting of what you’re recording, and the audio can all be affected. This is not the end of the world as if you know this ahead of time you can adjust certain things to make sure it will  turn out well.

These are pro’s and con’s I noticed when I made my own Mobile Journalism video during class. The assignment was to go outside for thirty minutes and create a video with some sort of theme. I decided to make a video recording the walk to class and the different steps it takes to get to a CEA classroom. At first I was confused how I would be able to edit all the videos together on my phone, but with the app Quik I was easily able to make an edited and smoothly put together video. The sound of the crowds were covered by music, and the clips were pretty fast and short so the concerns about  stability and lighting diminished.

Overall, this assignment made me realize how useful Mobile Journalism is. Not only does it save you time and money, but it permits you to be the first one to publish the latest news. If an amateur like me is able to put together and report my own short video, it just goes on to show how all of us as a society can become a journalist.

SWITZERLAND

Posted on by baileyadams19

This past weekend I was lucky enough to go on my first weekend trip and explore somewhere other  than Barcelona for a few days. I had the best weekend of my life in Interlaken, Switzerland. To get there my friends and I took a flight to Geneva, and then took a two and a half hour bus ride to the good old Balmers Hostel in Interlaken. This hostel was pretty old however the character in it and the city surrounding it made up for the squeaky beds and cold showers.

While in Switzerland I was able to cross something very high up on my bucket list – Skydiving. When I initially told my friends I wanted to do this they thought I was nuts. I thought I was going to be able to convince one person to join me, however this ended up being a thing I had to do solo. Although this was been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, the thing that really pushed me over the edge (no pun intended) was this video of Will Smith talking about his skydiving experience. The quote the stuck out to me was “God placed the best things in life on the other side of fear.”

So here I am, alone at my hostel getting on a bus to take me skydiving. After a 20 min drive to the heart of the Swiss Alps we have arrived to  the skydiving center. To my surprise, we only had a five minute instructions section and then everyone was suited up and off to a very small plane. In this moment I felt as though my mind was blank and my body was moving automatically. Four of us were in the airplane and before I knew it we were flying above the Swiss Alps. After a short scenic tour it was go  time. The door opened and two people jumped out before me.

Then, there was I, sitting on the ledge of an airplane. My skydiving partner gave me the thumbs and titled my head back. Instantly I went from seeing the airplane ceiling to  doing front flips into the snow covered mountains. Following that was the best most inexplicable 45 seconds of my life. Then the parachute was opened and after a few more spins I landed on the ground. I was overfilled with joy and instantly wanted to go again.

It’s without a doubt skydiving was the highlight of my trip, but to say I didn’t enjoy myself the whole rest of the trip would be a lie. I’ve included pictures of all the other things I did while in Switzerland. I hope that one day I’ll be lucky enough to return to this place  that made me feel like I was in a real life snow globe. I’m so grateful that I had such a successful first trip.

Enjoy!

Bailey

Hot chocolate and chocolate covered strawberries from Funky Chocolate
Mid Paragliding
View of the mountains
Pre Paragliding
Balmers Hostel
Walking into town
Mid Paragliding
Sign outside of Funky Chocolate
Baileys and Coffee from the local pub
In front of Lake Brienz
Lake Brienz
Balmers Hostel

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtJuoRlFfmibB8LcvL91zXZm1NcR2myjHIZFK40/

MULTIMEDIA TEST

Posted on by baileyadams19

Travelers in the United States are used to tipping a multitude of people, from the baristas who make their frothy coffee concoctions to restaurant servers, parking valets, hotel housekeepers and Uber drivers. But tipping a flight attendant? It’s largely unheard of. Almost all domestic US airlines have policies prohibiting flight attendants from accepting tips, but one ultra-low-cost carrier is bucking that tradition. About three years ago, Frontier Airlines introduced new technology to its inflight payment system that explicitly gives passengers the option to tip flight attendants.

Not that anyone seemed to notice at the time.Related content The world’s most punctual airports and airlines for 2019 revealed Tipping a flight attendant was a new concept for J.T. Genter, a senior writer at The Points Guy website, who has flown over 350 flights on 51 airlines in the three years. Several weeks ago, Genter recounted his surprise at being prompted to tip his Frontier flight attendant after ordering a can of ginger ale. His anecdote went viral and got many travelers wondering if flight attendants will be the next group of workers we’ll be tipping. 

 

 

Behind the mentality

“We appreciate the great work of our flight attendants and know that our customers do as well,” says Jonathan Freed, a Frontier spokesperson. “Tipping is entirely at the customer’s discretion, and many do it.”
But it’s not easy to change tipping culture.

“There can be many motivations for why we want to tip someone,” says Michael Lynn, a professor at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, who has written extensively on tipping.
“In general, the dynamic is that we tip people in jobs that are lower status than us. My guess is that most people don’t think of flight attendants as being lower status.”
Perhaps not. “But it’s a really hard job. These are people who do a really important job and don’t earn tremendous sums of money for doing it,” says Seth Kaplan, founding editor at Aviation Weekly.

So many hats, so little time

Part of what makes a flight attendant’s job difficult is that they don so many hats.
“Flight attendants are certified for our safety, health and security work,” says Sara Nelson, International President of the Association of Flight Attendants, the union that represents 50,000 flight attendants at 20 US airlines, including Frontier. As “aviation’s first responders,” says Nelson, the flight attendant’s primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of passengers.
 

 
Of course, flight attendants also serve food and drinks, and the service component of the job is typically what is most visible to passengers. “In terms of where they see flight attendants putting most of their time and energy, it’s mostly serving passengers,” says Lynn.
Fewer passengers may realize that a flight attendant is also a salesperson.
“On almost every airline in the United States, flight attendants are getting on the loudspeaker and announcing that they have this great deal on a credit card. When people get approved for the credit card, the flight attendant gets a bonus,” says Brian Sumers, aviation business editor at Skift, the travel intel site.
 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.