If you want to dream a little bit this weekend about places that you are not, check out National Geographic’s recent post of top nature videos. Number 10 is above, and if you think that’s good, then check out the rest.

I was scheming with an American friend of mine about a trip to Iran over the winter, an interesting combination of challenges. One of the things that I noticed was that for Americans to travel in Iran, they have to be accompanied by a government approved guide. While that sounds like a bit of a killjoy, the guys at In Deep Films show it as a bit of fun, hanging out with their minder in the evening. I suppose it’s really just a different style of travel you’d have to embrace and make the most of. While I think of my ideal holiday as being footloose and fancy free, I suppose there is a certain amount of fun to be had if you embrace way things are live it up. So the trip plotting will continue.

Looks like the excellent Mongol Rally TV was just a precursor to a larger feature. Now, just in time for the holidays (ugh, cliche, barf), the Adventurists have released a DVD capturing all the glory of this epic race. If you wanted to buy Alan or I, or any other person on a lifelong quest for adventure for that matter, a super-cool holiday gift, this would be a good choice.

I resolved to try vlogging a while ago, and to this end I took a video camera along for my weekend trip to Cornwall. But when I got back, I had no idea what to do with the footage. I was at a loss on how to turn some random shots into a coherent story about the trip. Thankfully I know some folks who are more creative than me. My house mate Marcin also took some video using his mobile, and combined with what I took, was able to make this fun video about our weekend. Hope you enjoy.

As you might guess, I enjoy recording my travels. As such, I end up spending a bit of time thinking about how to capture my expeditions on film.

While I was in Amsterdam, I heard a couple vloggers extol about the power of vlogging. I do enjoy a good webvideo, but I have my doubts about vlogging an adventure. While video can be a powerful way to capture time and place while traveling, I often feel that a shaky video of a great landmark just wouldn’t do it justice. I’m sure that if I could make a good video, then I could capture place better than just a photo can. But when then only equipment I have is my point and shoot, that’s not realistic.

In place of video, I like to take a picture and record a little bit of the sound of the place. Often I feel that this conveys the atmosphere just as well, if not better than a video from my point and shoot could. And sometimes, this medium feels more appropriate to the landmark. Take these two images and sounds for example.

Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech mid-day call to prayer on a scorching August day.

The bells of De Oude Kerk, Amesterdam faintly ringing as the evening sun dances through a window.

I might try vlogging at some point. But there will always be a bit of me that enjoys the peacefulness of just having the sights and sounds.