Showing posts with label connecting worlds club. Show all posts
Showing posts with label connecting worlds club. Show all posts
Friday 8 July 2011
Connections Cover Summer issue #32, 2011
Illustration for the cover for the Connections magazine with the theme of Passion
© Alison Day
First published in the Connections magazine
#32 Winter 2011, a publication of Connect International
Wednesday 16 June 2010
What's Hot, What's Not! - CouchSurfing
Participate in Creating a Better World, One Couch At A Time
There are
many ways to travel the world, whether it is on foot or by mechanical means,
but at the end of each day we all need a place to rest our heads and stash our
baggage. This calls to mind the well-sung words of a 1983 UK chart topper by
Paul Young, ‘Wherever I lay my hat is my home’.
When
travelling aboard, there are a multitude of options and types of places to stay
on the market and budgets vary accordingly. A hotel, however, whilst a comfortable
option on the one hand, remains an impersonal one, even after you have finished
plundering the mini bar. Also, from your ivory tower you have to make a
concerted effort to get out and get to know the city and its inhabitants and
hope that your guidebook is still up to date.
Enter an
increasingly popular solution in the form of CouchSurfing. No, this is not a
modern twist on the Walt Disney musical Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971).
CouchSurfing is a non-profit organization that was set up in 2004, and boasts
connections in 230 countries and territories around the world. Their aim is to
promote cultural exchange, understanding of others, friendship and education
amongst world citizens.
By becoming a member you become part
of an international community of travelers and can Surf or Host or both.
Hosting is when people around the world offer their ‘couch’, as a place to stay
to someone planning on visiting their country, the length of time being
pre-determined between the two parties. Or you can Surf for ‘couches’, in
countries you would like to visit. The only requirement of becoming a member of
CouchSurfing is that you too will reciprocate your ‘couch’ to a fellow traveler at some stage in your life. On top of this via their website
community, they also organize regional events and activities.
The advantages of such an exchange are
many. By staying with the people local to an area, it is a far more interesting
way to explore a new country. From your host up to date information on places
of interest, things to see and do will be at your fingertips, plus if you get
on particularly well with them you may even be included to join in their social
scene. It’s a way of leaving the realms of total tourist behind and being privy
to a country from your host’s perspective as well. Also, from reading a few of
the testimonials on their website, a far cheaper option than the afore
mentioned hotel. For the host there is the fun of meeting new people and
learning about new cultures from around the world without leaving the comfort
of their home and of course they can also use CouchSurfing too and may even end
up on your couch in the future!
For more information: CouchSurfing
Tuesday 18 May 2010
Saturday 8 May 2010
Thursday 29 April 2010
Connections Magazine - Winter #14 2006
After
earlier photo montages on covers of previous issues, this was the first issue that highlighted the work of featured artist, Jim Gamblin.
Wednesday 28 April 2010
Connections Magazine - Autumn #13 2006
Second Connections cover, this time
sporting a detachable badge to celebrate 10 years of Connect International. I
wonder if there are any still kicking around out there or can they be found
amongst the toys of some kids?
Connections Magazine - Summer #12 2006
The Connections has
made a logical transition from a newsletter to a magazine. This has meant that
each quarter we have to brainstorm something for the cover and articles have
been banished to the inside pages.
© Alison Day
First published in
the Connections magazine #12
Summer 2006
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