By Holly Cave

There are few things more refreshing than reading about a place you’ve never even heard of, a place you would never have heard of, unless an intrepid travel blogger had been there and written about it. Thankfully, Mark Wiens of Migrationology has been to the Chinese village of Chengyang, and we devoured the images he captured, alongside the descriptions of village life where the social life revolves around the wooden platforms of its many bridges: an inspiring portrait of rural life in China and one that makes you want to jump on a plane and check it out. Follow Mark on Twitter.

You hear a lot these days about Thailand being overrun with tourists, its most beautiful beaches selling out to big resorts and the seedier aspects of the tourist industry. So it’s no wonder that, having spread her wings, Bushbirdie is reluctant to share her love of Koh Yao Noi with the world. We’re pleased to be reassured that there are such hidden delights still out there and the TravMonkey post’s wanderlust-inducing properties aside, it’s also an interesting reflection upon the ethics of travel journalism. Follow Bushbirdie on Twitter.

Adam Pervez is one blogger who’s taken the Happiness Plunge. On a voyage to discover what it really means to be happy, one of his latest posts sees him travelling to meet Colombian citizen Kenji, a man who’s trying to make a change for the better in the troubled city of Bogota. It’s an article that makes you realise there’s no better way to really understand a place than by walking its streets with someone who knows it – for good and for bad – inside-out. Follow Adam on Twitter.

But travel isn’t always about being happy. However much you love a destination, there’s nearly always a striking cultural difference you simply can’t get your head around or something that pulls you up short of selling your house, buying a shed in a lemon grove and moving there immediately. Michael at Art of Backpacking ranted his hang-ups in his latest post, Things I don’t understand about Buenos Aires – a favourite city of many – to explore just a few of the things that drive him up the wall. Follow Michael on Twitter.

And unless you’ve avoided all types of retail establishment over the last few weeks, you’ll know that it was Valentine’s Day earlier this week. Nicole at Bitten By the Travel Bug took a moment to reflect upon the trials and tribulations of romance on the road in A Traveller’s Romance. It’s a reminder that even those who spend their lives flitting from one country to the next really do have tough times, but also a sweet reminder that love can happen anywhere and at any time! Follow Nicole on Twitter.

By Holly Cave

We thought it was about time to feature something slightly different this week, and so, apparently, did star blogger, Nellie Huang. Good timing, Nellie! Her brave new venture is the tricky move from blogging to publishing and having had a flick through the first edition of WildJunket Magazine, we think she’s cracked it.

The world map effectively lays out the articles and features in context, and stunning photography keeps you turning the page. It’s packed full of far more features than the big brand travel mags: we especially enjoyed the article about the Namib Desert. The genuine narrative makes it a palpably heartfelt read and defines its grass-roots production ethic. Follow Nellie on Twitter.

We love nothing more than an evocative description of a truly unique experience and Miss Footloose has clinched a space in this week’s round-up with her thrilling crocodile saga, Death By Crocodile, Almost. Pitching tents far enough apart that elephants will walk between them and not trample you in your sleep? Badly misinformed tourists throwing things at a creature that kills with a ‘death roll’? Now that’s adventure. Follow Miss Footloose on Twitter.

Our favourite eye candy this week came from As We Travel with a series of wintery night time shots from Berlin. Looking at these images, surely the German capital wins the Best Lit City award hands down? Peppered with Nathan and Sofia’s briefly described memories of frying bratwurst, gluhwein and Christmas atmosphere, this blog post is a great pick-me-up. Follow As We Travel on Twitter.

And despite the big freeze continuing, it’s a lot colder in mainland Europe than it is here in Blighty. Candace Rose Rardon put her efforts this week into writing a great little post about some of the sites we’ve got right here on our doorstep. We love seeing some familiar places summed up with the words of an expat, and a certain pride wells up at the mention of your favourite city. So, as Candace points out, with some brilliant train offers on at the moment, why not check out one of our own cities? None of them will mean risking a long, chilly wait at Heathrow. Follow Candace on Twitter.

Although bloggers are always keen to tell you what they’ve seen, what they’ve done, and how they’d recommend you to do the same, there’s very rarely any chat about how they do the things that they do. Enter the Indie Travel Manifesto. For me, this simple site sums up what independent travel really stands for, and how you can make your trips more worthwhile both for you and the people of the place you’re visiting. Why not sign up today and include this neat little list in with your wad of travel documents next time you head overseas?

Have you found any great travel blogs you’d like us to feature? Contact me on Twitter.

* Photo by Miss Footloose

By Holly Cave

Forget the glossy high rises of Dubai, Middle East expert Maria Laborde introduces us to the delights of Abu Dhabi in her latest photo essay, Abu Dhabi: The rising Emirate. With some really interesting background on the status and history of the United Arab Emirates – most of which I must admit was completely new information to me. This blog article acts as a great introduction to the region and highlights some of the best attractions, both man-made and natural, that can be accessed from Abu Dhabi. If it’s a more laidback Middle Eastern holiday you’re in search of, Maria suggests the desert oasis of Al Ain, on the border with Oman, might be an alternative to the crowds of Dubai. Follow Maria on Twitter.

Heather Carson at BootsnAll transports us from one desert to another. She spent this week musing over Mongolia and has come up with her eight experiences not to miss. Surrounded by many countries that travellers have higher up on their ‘to do’ lists, Mongolia is yet to really make the most of its tourist dollars. If your image of this huge country is little more than a brown-coloured collage of scrubland, livestock and Ghengis Khan, reading this blog post will change your mind. Why not time your visit to coincide with the Thousand Camel Festival?

Sand of a different kind rings the magnificent Cook Islands, although Tiffany and Greg of Coast Guard Couple were more interested in the food and drink than the beaches. In their light-hearted review of the islands’ intoxicating options, they bit the bullet for their readers and spent a day sampling Cooks Lager and local ‘Koteka’ wine. We’re only sad we’ll have to go all the way to the Cook Islands to try wine made from bananas.

If you’re thinking about how you couldn’t possibly afford a holiday to the Cook Islands right now, spare a thought for Ryan Brown, who spent most of his nights in Wellington, New Zealand, kipping in a hammock. So ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Guerrilla Camping. Reading about his fear of being hunted down by wood-dwelling axe murderers gave us a chuckle and while we can’t condone anything illegal, we can’t help thinking that perhaps there should be different rules for Hobbits. Follow Ryan on Twitter.

You could be taking photos like this on your iPhone

By Holly Cave

From the wild to the whimsical, New Orleans is ramping up a gear in preparation for the annual Mardi Gras celebrations. This year, organisers of the US version of ‘Fat Tuesday’ won’t just be throwing the usual strings of beads from their floats. Glen over at Travelin’ Gringo brings us a colourful preview of the eye-catching ‘bead dogs’ popping up all over the city. Follow Glen on Twitter.

Glen is quick to explain that Paws on Parade is all about raising money and awareness for the local animal charity, but on the face of it, Glen’s pictures are evocative of the spirit and culture of this Louisiana city. And if you’re keen to visit New Orleans, then Mardi Gras is the time to go!

Jordan seems to be a country that keeps finding its way into our favourite blogs of the week. This time, it’s Matt at Landlopers’ sun-scorched photos and descriptions of the little details that ticked our boxes with Five reasons to visit Jordan in 2012. Containing reflections on the Arab Spring, the humble but delicious food and the warmth of the people he met, this is a great post to read if you’re thinking of travelling to this mystical country. Follow Matt on Twitter.

An empty beach in Jordan. Photo: Matt Long

The fabulously titled Stop Having a Boring Life blog focusses this week on a lens less ordinary – the Apple iPhone and how to take great shots with it. Who said you need a smart SLR to capture the essence of a place. And Larissa should know all about it – every photo posted on her blog has been snapped with an iPhone. With links to other articles she’s written on the tips and tricks to try with an iPhone, this post has your lazy Sunday afternoon sorted. Be sure to check out the link to her photo essay of Istanbul. Follow Larissa on Twitter.

If you’re trying hard not to have a boring life, but are struggling to get away from work or pay off those bills, Marsha is here to remind us that not all adventures have to be far flung. In her latest post, 5 highlights of Edinburgh Castle, this solo female traveller casts her eye not only on the view of Scotland’s capital from the turrets, but more closely at the tourist offering inside its walls. We had no idea there was so much to see and Marsha’s little insights and snippets of history add colour to the descriptions of her favourite bits. Follow Marsha on Twitter.

Personal stories left to one side, we also like to keep an eye out for quirky new sites that offer an alternative perspective on travel. Via Twitter, we learnt about Rambler! this week, a site that helps you put down the Lonely Planet guidebook and treats travel as a game for a change. And this site could be a game changer. Especially great for solo travellers, it generates ‘quests’ for you to undertake in your chosen destination, which in Italy for example, might be to get a kiss from a gladiator. Sweet on the social media aspect, it’s a work in progress but we love it already.

By Holly Cave

My favourite discovery of the week is the eyewateringly brilliant Pictory Mag. This image essay / visual blog / photojournalism – call it what you will – tells a different story each week. This week it’s Something to write home about, so what we get is, in effect, a collection of beautifully crafted postcards. For photography enthusiasts, there’s a range of styles and subjects explored. It also made me realise how much I miss my family when I’m travelling, and how they are the first people I want to tell about something amazing I’ve seen – the contributors here obviously feel the same.

The Soultravelers’ latest blog caught my eye because there have been so many times when I’ve thought ‘this is great, but you couldn’t bring kids along’. Sitting in the restaurant of a Marlborough winery was one of them, but thanks to their blog, I’m glad to say that perhaps I was wrong. Kids love vineyards and wine tasting, apparently, and judging by the comments left below the article, others agree! There’s some great holiday ideas here and has me longing for a balmy summer afternoon in the central France.

Far from sun-drenched grapevines, Hank Leukart at Without Baggage is travelling through Southern China. It’s refreshing to read about someone who’s not on the typical banana pancake trail but making their way through a country purely to explore its culture rather than its beaches. I’m yet to backtrack through the blogs Hank’s written about his Chinese adventures before this point, but the tagline on this one makes it irresistible. The side story about the rush to the airport is a reminder that everyone treats pre-flight organisation quite differently, and this slightly wacky story, peppered with ever-amusing mistranslations gives a little taste of what it must feel like to be immersed in the Chinese culture.

At Inspired by Krissi, Anthonee writes this week about Motorbikes and Mindfulness. Linking the two with the joint philosophy of living in the moment. Reading a piece of this blog is a bit of escapism for the mind, even if you can’t actually get away from the office. And if you read the story behind this blog, you’ll realise why Anthonee so wants to make the most out of life. Hesitating? Read this blog and kick, rev, go.

I always enjoy a bit of unabridged honesty when it comes to blogging, and Amy and Kieron at Don’t Ever Look Back dole out whimsical anecdotes of their experiences in their latest post, The things we did wrong on our RTW trip. At first, I couldn’t understand how they put on weight whilst travelling. As a vegetarian, I tend to lose pounds in unknown lands. But they spent 83 days in the USA, which helps explain this and the vast overspending, plus the Labor Day weekend in Las Vegas. Schadenfreude aside, this blog has some great tips for anyone planning their next big trip.

So, here’s to the future! Let us know if you have any blogs to recommend and we will check them out.

* Photo credits: Nate Bolt, Anthonee

By Holly Cave

In one of the week’s best travel blog posts, Michael Turtle captured in words and pictures the beautiful desolation of Uruguay’s out-of-season beaches – the secret playground of South America. Having recently been to South America, I find it interesting how many people only called in at Montevideo, or simply take the coach straight through between Brazil and Argentina. Maybe if more articles like this were written about Uruguay, more people would make time for this fascinating little country and its gorgeous beaches. Follow Michael on Twitter.

Have you ever thought about it? Ever wandered into the booking office only to think again and back out quietly? Well, this week, Steph Yoder at Twenty-Something Travel finally took the plunge and leapt off a bridge attached to a very sketchy-looking bungee rope. I think it’s always interesting to read about other people’s adrenaline-fuelled exploits, particularly if you’d never consider anything of the kind yourself, especially in a place where, as Steph puts it, has “a total lack of safety precautions”. If you are of the thrill-seeking persuasion, it sounds like you could do worse than spend a week in Banos, Ecuador. Follow Steph on Twitter.

On a more practical note, Runaway Jane was giving us the lowdown on the many ingenious ways in which we could find a free bed for the night if the idea of staying in a hotel or hostel simply isn’t enough of a challenge, or equally, if your wallet’s just been stolen. Expanding on the more well-known options of WWOOFing and Couch Surfing, this blog post is certainly thought-provoking. We’d never thought about living on a cruise ship for six months, but after reading this article, it’s starting to sound like quite an attractive prospect! Follow Jane on Twitter.

And on that note, apparently even if you’re not traditionally a ‘cruiser’ – a term that may need some clarification – 2012 will be the year in which you’ll think about a waterbound holiday, as cruise companies sex up their ships to boutique hotel standards. The Most Important Travel Trends of 2012 article is one to generate heated discussion, and also reckons we’ll notice more Chinese travellers on our trips, good package holidays deals, and allegedly see a reduction in airport security measures. We’ll believe it when we see it.

There are some things that will never go out of fashion, and in her latest post, The 5 Amazing World Wonders I Saw This Year, Lily Leung talks us through why she thinks some of the world’s top attractions are so worth a visit, plus throws in a couple of unofficial contenders of her own. Follow Lily on Twitter.

Happy reading along with a mug of mulled wine and a mince pie, and we’ll see you next week!

> Got a favourite travel blog post? Please leave a link in the comments below.

Photo credits: Steph Yoder (top); Lily Leung (above)

By Holly Cave

Our travel blogs this week are beyond cool, from East London’s trendiest eateries and shopping spots to bass-fuelled road trips across the desert and getting to grips with social media. But let’s not forget the joys of sitting back with our favourite brand of beer in a typical tourist hang-out. Nowt wrong with that…

If you happen to be aware that an all-female band won The X Factor last weekend (no – just me?), then you’ll know that this week was all about girl power. Kate McCulley (pictured above left) was living up to her screen name with an intrepid voyage, Camping with Bedouins in Wadi Rum. Glamping or not, we applaud Kate for her enduring love of the great outdoors and her eagerness to clamber aboard a camel. We challenge you not to break into a grin as you watch the video of Hasan driving (largely hands-free) through the desert.

For those of you still struggling to come to terms with the secret codes and hidden depths of the Twitterverse, Anila Babla’s article On Twitter traincation with Traveldudes might help bring you up to speed. After a brilliant summary of what it feels like when you’re trying to get to grips with Twitter, Anila calms you down with some great tips for seeking out travel tips with those all important hashtags, and then wraps it all up with an intriguing interview with Melvin Boecher, travel blogger and founder of Traveldudes. A great, very personal, interlude with social media. See you at #TTOT!

I’ve been wanting to feature the visually gorgeous Fathom blog for a while now and with Geren Lockhart’s latest article on The Magic of East London, it finally seemed the right time. Having loved this area for years, I’ve never ourselves been able to put into words what exactly is so flipping brilliant about, but Geren does a fine job. The well thought out itinerary could be squeezed into an overnight stay and there are some really personal tips here for visitors and locals alike that sum up the creative, trendy, organic vibe of East London.

Over at Go, See, Write, Michael Hodson reminds us that so-called ‘tourist traps’ aren’t always a bad thing. So they’re not off the beaten track, and are far from undiscovered, and you run the risk of finding a Burger King on their busiest streets but we agree that some such places have an indeterminable charm. Michael sings the virtues of cosy, welcoming Siem Reap. Throw in a good hotel recommendation with a filling breakfast and that makes a great travel blog in our eyes. Thanks, Michael!

Last but not least, if you’ve got five minutes to spare in between last-minute online shopping, check out 2011′s Best Travel Photos, as voted for by Travelllll.com. In turns heart-warming and impressive, you’ll find some inspiration here for your next photographic exploits. Maybe they’ll be featuring you next year!

Until next time, folks. Keep those suggestions for your top travel travel blogs rolling in.

> Photos by Kate McCulley and Micheal Hodson

> Follow Holly Cave on Twitter