For Vasco da Gama, the notes and maps of forerunners like Bartholomeu Dias served as his guide towards the Cape of Good Hope. He studied the tools available to him to complete his mission of discovering a sea route to India for the spice trade. It required military prowess, leadership, diplomacy and cunning. The mission for Expedia’s Modern Explorers is a little simpler: to share their experience and bring the story of their journey to life for our readers. Still, mastery of the tools at their disposal is just as vital to their success.
Charley Boorman, Competition Judge and Explorer
Charley Boorman, an intrepid adventurer himself, took the group through the fine art of handling the unexpected like: the etiquette of eating boiled testicles in Mongolia. He shared valuable lessons learned like not taking driving directions from people on horseback or donkey. Remember they may have a slightly different perspective and it’s likely their directions may not prove quite so helpful for your vehicle. With the team’s preparations in mind, Charley offered some packing tips: pack everything you are going to take with you, then unpack it all and get rid of half of it. Then, he said, you’ll be getting close to what you’ll actually use on your adventures.
Tom Hall, Digital Editorial Director at Lonely Planet
Tom Hall, distilled about a decade of travel writing experience into 45 minutes by sharing the 15 most important things he wished he’d known when he began travel writing: from the tiny percentage of readers who will make it to the end of an article to finding the right hook to get someone to read it in the first place.
Hannah White, Garmin brand ambassador and Adventurer
Hannah White, answered questions such as what you do if you find yourself trapped at the top of your mast mid-ocean or you’re desperate to share the moment a school of dolphins escorted your boat. Introducing Garmin’s new Virb cameras to Expedia’s Modern Explorers, Hannah explained how sharing her adventures helps her to tackle the isolation out on the open ocean. She discussed the added motivation that real time data from the Garmin Vivofit can provide and how the device can help to relive an adventure, bring the experience to life for her audience – or just get out there and see and do more.
The Microsoft team introduce the Microsoft Surface 2s and Nokia Lumias
The Microsoft team introduced the Expedia Modern Explorers to their Microsoft Surface and Lumia 1020s they would be equipped with to stay in touch during their voyage. From connectivity over web, voice and video, Expedia’s Modern Explorers learned how to catalogue and capture all of the sights and sounds they will experience on their trip.
Dan Rubin on smartphone photography
Dan Rubin , designer, photographer, co-founder of The Photographic Journal and one of Instagram’s earliest beta-testers gave the team a crash course in the art of smartphone photography. With Dan’s expertise, the team discovered the best methods and apps to capture quirky little moments, breath-taking vistas and, of course, the selfie. Dan also shared his favourite editing apps – from one that helps you remove the annoying person who just walked into your shot to one that helps make small adjustments to improve contrast and exposure for photos that capture the moment as you remembered it.
Travelperspective’s Steve Keenan on digital story-telling
Travelperspective’s Steve Keenan (former Travel Editor of The Times online) guided the team through the hazards of clichés and excessive use of exclamation marks; away from the perils of libel and defamation, towards the boundless potential of publishing in the multi-media world. Drawing on his own extensive experience and those of his industry colleagues, he introduced the team to the art of digital story-telling and the treasure trove of tales that just one destination can yield.
We wrapped up the day with a little taster of the culinary delights that lie ahead on the rooftop of Expedia’s offices and a few intros to some of Dan’s South African Instagram friends to finish off the day.
