“This is a new kind of adventure. I want to capture a sense of remoteness and send it back home. It’s about traveling in real time with the online community in my backpack, connecting travelers everywhere to my footsteps.”
— Andrew Evans on “Where’s Andrew,” his new project with National Geographic
After we settled in with our drinks, David pulled out his iPhone and announced, “Momondo is going to do its first narrative tweet!”
We’d all been in a workshop that afternoon called “Storytelling 101” given by Andrew Evans, a well-known travel writer whose most recent tour de force was a voyage to Antarctica via a 10,000-mile bus journey from DC to Argentina.
Although the trek would have been remarkable in its own right, Andrew used it as an opportunity to practice, as he calls it, “real-time storytelling”–utilizing social media tools like Twitter to report directly from the road: tweets, blog posts, photos, and even videos like this one of a rare black penguin.
But it isn’t just reporting…in many ways, it’s still writing. In the workshop, Andrew encouraged us to be creative with our posts, sharing how he’s even taken to crafting his tweets into haikus–working within, rather than against, the confines of Twitter’s 140-character limit. Here’s a couple he posted just yesterday:
“In Copenhagen/ November dawn comes too late/ The day ends too soon.”
“Danes inside Denmark/ Sport tight black leggings, high-tops/ & star trek Haircuts.”
As someone who’s always eschewed Twitter, finding it something that merely duplicates the Facebook status updates we’re already posting everyday, I left the workshop somewhat inspired…and actually itching to get my hands on an iPhone. I liked the fact that tweets can be more than just “I’m in London and loving it!”–that we can actually utilize it as a tool to engage creatively with wherever we are–be it at home or on the road. As Andrew said, “The jury’s still out on Twitter.” It’s up to us to use it as we see fit.
And so it was in a bar called Jolene’s on a Saturday night in Copenhagen that a group of aspiring travel writers/bloggers tried their hand at the same, all from the suggestion of David. He handed me his phone and I, along with a London-based Aussie named Justin and a Berlin-based American named Cheney, whipped up a haiku of our own.
Here’s what we came up with:
It was a proud moment for all of us, but we didn’t give it a lot more thought until Maren, cofounder of TBEX and GoGalavanting, and Dylan the Travelling Editor suddenly walked into the bar.
“How’d you find us?” we asked, amazed that out of all the bars in Copenhagen, they’d come to Jolene’s.
But it wasn’t so random, after all.
“The haiku tweet, of course…it was like a treasure hunt!”
We could’ve tweeted something as uninspiring as, “TBEXers–meet us at Jolene’s!”
Instead, we took a few extra minutes, soaked in the atmosphere around us, and wrote something both creative and actually still informative.
Andrew’s tweets are so clever, I’d never even heard of haikus before his storytelling talk. I don’t think I have the time or presence of mind to compose very many narrative tweets.
Hi Karen! I know…it is quite overwhelming to think of being so deliberate about Twitter 🙂 But I definitely loved his ideas and am keen to try it out, even on a lesser level. I loved your talk as well…I’m sorry I never really had a chance to talk to you in person, but I look forward to seeing you at future TBEX’s in the future!
I am so glad your study of Haiku’s are finding voice.
So proud of you!
Traveling daughter
O so far away, away
Live life to the full.
How’d I do? 🙂 Love you, Mum
Sounds like a very inspiring trip! as always you’ve brought new things to think about.. have been thinking about the post about being plugged into technology on the commute since reading it!
Thanks, Erin!! The kind words mean a lot 🙂 I guess the recurring theme of smart phones/technology is only because I’m torn at the moment of whether or not to just go ahead and get an iPhone…so it keeps coming up in what I write! Any thoughts? As a traveller, I’ve always liked the idea of being disconnected, but lately I’m trying to think outside the box…how’s the other London? 🙂
What a great post. I remember looking at you during Andrew’s talk and there was this collective recognition at the power of combining Twitter with poetry forms. I’m sad I missed out on the last night in CPH, but I’m sure I’ll see you soon.
I know…I’m pretty sure we were both in love with everything he was saying by that point 🙂 talk about being groupies, haha…I have to say, too, I saw one of your haiku tweets about Amsterdam, something about buildings leaning into listen?…loved it! How were your Dutch adventures, btw? So much fun to meet you at TBEX, I’m looking forward to many more TBEX’s with everyone in the future…stay in touch!
Thanks about the tweet. What’s funny is I got home and checked my bookshelf and I found an old issue of McSweeney’s dedicated to dead poetry forms. I’m going to test some out… 😀
Amsterdam was great, so short-lived. I’ll definitely stay in touch. You were great 😉
I just wanted to add that the fact that the tweet had “tech house beats” on it, has gained extra points in my book to Momondo and the rest of the group involved. Good stuff! Wish I was there.
Thanks for the comment, Michael! I have to admit–the tech house shout-out was all Justin…I originally thought it was drum and bass but was soon corrected 🙂 It was a great night though…hope to meet you at the next TBEX!
A brilliant evening and a great post. I have always had a soft spot for electronic music and would love if Momondo gets associated with tech house 🙂
Just a casual, insomniac meander in the realms and guess what I found – a classic tale of losses and finds. Still incredulous of how Maren and I were lost in dark labyrinthine Copenhagen before seeing the Momondo tweet and finding where you guys were hanging out!
I may have to tell this story to my grandkids.
Umm I think this is definitely a grandkid-worthy story! That night will always be one of my favorite travel memories – the perfect combination of a fun city, brilliant new friendships and a little bit of magic to tie it all together. You’re welcome to come meander here anytime 🙂