It seems as if every time I check in at Escape from New York, Wendy is off gallivanting somewhere new. I suppose it helps that she’s a freelance journalist and photographer, so the road takes her literally all over the world. I love her posts too, because not only are they visually interesting, but also highly informative (she also cross-references the various places she’s been making for fascinating connections). I especially love when she travels to places I’ve been (ie. Panama) so I can pick up a tidbit or two. I also am going to consider collecting textiles from my travels after reading her great responses. So, without further ado, here’s Wendy with today’s installment of Boarding Pass. . . {Thanks, Wendy!}
{Cultural revolution kitsch for sale Dongtai Road Antique Market Shanghai China}

last trip taken:
Short trip to D.C. a few weeks ago and a trip to Mexico earlier this year.

{Textiles Guatemala; right: La Catrina Day of the Dead folk art}

next trip on deck:
Somewhere in Asia in the fall (Laos, Tibet or Seoul are on the short list) and Nicaragua in November. In my own country I’m hoping to make it to New Mexico and Los Angeles for shorter trips some time this year.

{Goa India}

one place you would go back to again and again:
This is tough as there are so many places I love to go back to again and again but here are a few: India, Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong. India is one of my homes away from home and I love large dynamic cities in Asia.

place you’d most likely recommend a friend go visit:
It depends on the friend and there are so many incredible places on earth but I’ll narrow it down to two: India and Mexico. It would take a lifetime to explore either and both are cultural gold mines. They are visual places in terms of people, architecture, customs, festivals and every day life and offer diverse landscapes (mountains, deserts and beaches) and are a photographer’s dream. You can walk the streets of some of the most populated cities in the world or explore off the beaten track villages and sites where few foreign tourists tread. They are also great places for foodies to visit.

{Shanghai, China; right: Hong Kong street}

preferred method of transportation:
I prefer taking the metro if there is one. They are typically cheap, fast and make getting around big cities you are unfamiliar with easier. In rural areas a road trip by car.

{Dhobi Wallahs Mumbai}

place you’ve never been but dying to go:
Many come to mind but the two that stand out the most are Cape Town and Sydney. I’d love to fly into each of these cities and then explore each country.

{Cemetery Vigils Day of the Dead Pátzcuaro Mexico}

place you’d never go back:
Las Vegas. Once was more than enough.

{Turbans for sale Jaipur India}

most memorable trip:
A trip I took to India and Nepal six years ago. It was my first trip to both countries and I unexpectedly met my now husband.
{Altar depicting a choir for Day of the Dead festival Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe Mexico City}

how do you prepare for a trip?
I read and speak to those who have been. I also research locations to photograph and prepare a shot list which is revised and added to along the way.

{reporter’s notebook; right: Shaman Zocalo mexico city}

how do you record your travels when you’re traveling?
I’m a journalist and photographer so I take many photographs and use a good old-fashioned reporter’s notebook to take notes.

{Tailors market Tripoli, Lebanon}

what is your favorite thing to photograph in a new place?
I photograph everything but I love markets, festivals and street scenes in particular. In big cities, especially in Asia, I love night photography.

on an average, how many pictures to you take on a trip?
Thousands but only a small percent ever see the light of day.

{Medina Essaouira Morocco North Africa}

what’s in your “designer travel kit” ?
Canon 5D bodies and assorted lenses, tripod, plenty of memory cards and spare batteries, a bag to carry them on board and a smaller bag to carry equipment when pounding the pavement. A laptop on longer trips and portable storage to back up files. A good book (or 2) and ipod for long haul flights.

{Mexico carpet}

what do you do after a trip? how long after a trip does this happen?
I blog, have recently started pitching travel articles and submit photographs to photography agencies. I edit and caption photos as soon as possible.

{Mexican folk art; right: Paper cut out by Margarita Fick Mexican folk artist}

{Indian silks}

favorite souvenir?
I tend to bring back textiles and carpets and like incorporating treasures from travels into our home. Textiles are easy to transport. To that end my biggest coup in terms of hauling items home was carrying on board a metal sculpture purchased in Berlin. I have traveled to Mexico several times in the last few years and am a huge fan of Mexican folk art, particularly that associated with the Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos. I have a growing collection.

{Mexican folk art–Box covered with lottery tickets; right: Berlin sculpture}

{Sugar Candy Skulls Day of the Dead}

If you could live anywhere else in the world for a year where would it be?
Hong Kong. I have traveled to Kong Kong many times on business. I like the energy and it has everything from dazzling high rises to small fishing villages. It is also a fantastic travel hub for the rest of Asia and Hong Kong observes both Chinese and British bank holidays so there are plenty of long weekends to explore the region if you work a day job.
If you could hit the road for a year where would you travel?
I would love to travel from Cairo to Cape Town and as much as possible in between.

blog: Escape from New York
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Don’t miss all the past editions of Boarding Pass.