Cyprus Without The Sea


When Father Dionysios spoke his voice croaked and cracked like he was on the verge of tears. Years of breathing in the fumes from restoration work on the monastery’s icons were thought to have affected his throat. This didn’t stop him from welcoming his guests though, nattering away as Read more

The Gambian Cooking Experience


We'd been surprised and a little hurt by the local's reactions to our presence at Banjul Market. As soon as we took our cameras out, vendors shook their heads or waved their hands in disapproval. I was trying to take a photo of the market scene; the colours, the Read more

Close Encounters of the Crocodile Kind at Kachikally Pool Gambia


I stopped dead in my tracks. There was a rather large crocodile blocking the pathway, with what appeared (bizarrely) to be a bunch of bananas on its head. “Don’t worry, this one is just plastic,’ grinned our guide at Kachikally crocodile pool. We were here to visit the sacred croc Read more

First Impressions of the Gambia


“What does she carry to the market? She carries her basket to the market.” Titiana, the schoolteacher who looks like a young Macy Gray, is leading the class through an English recital. Somehow we have found ourselves at the front of the room, awkwardly hanging around the blackboard, whilst 20 Read more

On Missing Flights and Second Chances


I couldn’t bear to write this post until I was almost definitely on my way to the Gambia. So I started this draft in the No1 Traveller Lounge at Gatwick departures, thinking unless something goes horribly wrong between here and the gate, I should soon be safely on my Read more

#TravelBookChat Beach Reads: Round Up & Reading List


Last week we held April's Travel Book Chat on twitter with a theme very close to my heart - beaches! A report of the hashtag shows that there were nearly 350 tweets on the subject reaching over 100,000 twitter users, which means there are many of you who enjoy Read more

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» Travel press awards

Winning Travel Blogger of the Year at the British Travel Press Awards 2011

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Jayne in 40 before 30 challenge, Blogging | 49 Comments

I looked at the guest list and gulped. It was full of BIG names; travel publications like Condé Nast Traveller and National Geographic, renowned PR agencies like Four BGB and Hills Balfour and tourism boards ranging from Scotland to Mauritius. And then me, from some little unknown website called 40before30.com.

The awards begun. Prizes were handed out to really talented people from Lonely Planet and to the likes of Kevin May from Tnooz. I skulked at the back and tweeted:

“What am I doing here?!”

The awards were being swiftly handed out and soon enough it was time to announce the Travel Blogger of the Year – this first time this prize had ever been awarded at the British Travel Press Awards. The judges were read out:

Joel Brandon-Bravo, Travelzoo    

Pleasance Coddington, VisitBritain

Alison Couper, Expedia Inc

Then the six nominees were announced. I raised my camera to get a picture of my face on screen as a nominee, thinking this was as good as it gets. I wasn’t really listening to what the announcer was saying, getting frustrated with my camera and it’s poor pictures in the dark. I thought I heard something that sounded like my name. My boyfriend was looking at me ecstatically.

“REALLY?” I said.

I fought my way through the crowd to get to the stage. People I respect hugely were congratulating me. It seemed to take ages and the man on the mic commented about the delay. On stage I worried about straightening my dress and breathing in for the camera, completely overwhelmed by what was happening. The announcer was saying something about why I had won, mentioning the 40before30 challenge, how I share my travel adventures and misadventures along the way.

Winning Travel Blogger of the Year at the British Travel Press Awards

Stepping down from the stage there followed a moment which put the icing on the cake. Resplendent in purple silk and that famous golden tan “Well done” said Judith Chalmers OBE – to ME!!!! If I was ever asked as a child what I wanted to be when I grew up I would invariably reply Judith Chalmers, presenter of travel show ‘Wish you were here’. I suppose, in a way, I have found my own way to present the ‘Wish you were here’ concept.  A way that fits the current approach for reading, researching and being inspired to travel; through this brand new industry we call social media.

Everyone’s a winner!

Now for the cheesy thank you bit!

So I really want to thank you guys for bothering to read these musings on travel that I enjoy sharing so much. For caring enough to respond and engage with me, for being inspired to travel to places that I have enjoyed visiting. Thanks to the other travel bloggers who have shared their tips for success with me and to the wonderful fellow nominees I shared the evening with – Abigail King and Paul Corbett. Thanks to my mum for being my first subscriber and to my boyfriend who insisted on attending the Travel Press Awards with me although I told him it would be a waste of his time. Turns out it wasn’t!

You can view a full list of the winners at the British Travel Press Awards 2011 on their website.