Journaling is a great way to remember things, especially during travelling. Physically writing down stuff allows the brain to register the event better than jotting down the event on a digital device. ( Mueller & Oppenheimer, 2014) However, jotting down things doesn't mean the whole page have to be filled with words. You can decorate and present it beautifully as well. Here are some creative travel journal examples you can use as inspiration for your journals.
Creative Travel Journal Ideas Featuring The Heart of Asia
Taiwan Trip Summary - Point Form
You can do this as a content page at the start of your journals or at the end of the journals. It's for you to write down the places you visit and the highlights of your trip in point form. Gimlette adviced that even by jotting down points along your journey helps the mind to preserve the experience in your mind ( Moss 2016)
Taiwan Trip Summary - Essay
After the end of your trip, you can lengthen the point form and write a short essay/ paragraph describing your trip and how you feel about it in general. For me, I chose to write the longer version for I talk too much.
Taiwan Attraction Highlight - Beitou
One of the ideas is to write down the history of the location or highlights of the location. I paste the architecture of the Beitou hot spring museum in the middle for I am highlighting the museum in this spread. Try to pick one attraction to focus on so that you won't clutter the page.
Taiwan Attraction Highlight - PingXi
Another example on how you can display the highlights of your attraction is to leave 1 page for the title and the other page for the history of the tourist attraction. Add the title in a different language to let your spread look more vibrant and versatile.
Collect Physical Memorables - Namecards, Paper Coasters, Chopstick Holders
These are the physical memory that you have to look for, but not too hard. They are around you every day but you tend to ignore them for they are 'junk' for most people. Memorable from store name cards, recyclable chopstick holders, hotel coasters and more. These are not only perfect for your journal but you can display them in a shadow box too.
Collect Physical Memorables - Item tags, Packaging, Tea Packets and Labels, Sweet Packaging
I guess one of the reason why I always turn my mixed media daily journal into a junk journal is that I collect too much 'junk'. These days I'm learning to limit my collection to what I would actually display in my journal nicely. I love flat items like item tags or pretty packaging from items that I purchased there. If you are a tea enthusiast, you can display tea packets or labels in your journal. If you have a sweet tooth, why not display the packages in your journal too!
Collect Physical Memorables - Pamphlets, Feedback forms with cute graphics on them
To spice up your journal with more photos, collect pamphlets. Pamphlets that represent the location you are in or brochures that you think make an amazing element in your journal. Collect them all! One of the things I've learned to take is feedback forms with cute graphics on them. Of course not all feedback form look cute but you should always look at every paper item before deeming them to be unusable.
Name cards are amazing for these days, social media, other website and even funny jokes are listed on the name card. Here I have a local entrepreneur from Taiwan, BirdBirdParadise. She is a 'one man show' and she sell homemade felt birds and stationery. From postcards to washi tapes, the owner of BirdBirdParadise got it all. Do check her birds out.
BirdBirdParadise | BirdBird 樂園
Facebook | Pinkoi | IG: #birdbird樂園
Collectible Stamps - Train, Attraction, Postcard Decorations, Stamp Sample
The last collectible you can add in your journal is collectible train station stamps, attraction stamp, postcard decoration stamps and even stamp samples. In Taiwan, train station stamps could be found outside the control booth at every station. It is a similar situation in Japan. Attraction, postcard decoration stamps and stamp samples are slightly more hidden. Look for the brown wooden stamp handle or stamp pad to identify these Easter eggs.
Only Stamps, Stickers and Washi Inspired Page - Minimal Writing
Another idea for your spread is to fill it up with these collectible stamps. If you brought or bought washi tapes on your trip, use them to fill up the empty holes in the page. You can refer to my camp theme spread for minimal writing spread ideas.
Train Station Map | Innovative Pockets
Pockets don't have to be a corner flap that you made by yourself. It can be a flat paper cup holder or even a cardholder. Be creative with your journals. One of the best ways to remember and 'travel' the area again is through maps. I've managed to obtained a miniature train station map that fits in my journal perfectly.
Collage - Tags, Stamps, Washis, Card
Make a collage out of all of your collected items. The key thing is to be innovative and free of the restrictions you've set for yourself. Add flippable items. Here I've added a train card that I've used throughout my journey.
Travel Journal Examples - Follow the Route
The last travel journal example is to note down your route. From one category to another, take a point at which place did you visit first. The perfect place to track your journey is the zoo or aquarium. As there's already a map for you, it is easier to track your route.
For more Travel Journal Examples, you can check out 12 ways to decorate your journals. If Journaling is not your thing, you can preserve your travel memories by displaying it on a display plate or shadow box. Learn how to craft both of them here.
