I seem to find a new reason to love the internet every day! I love all the resources and connections that are made possible by this form of mass communication. As travelers, we all know that the internet has completely changed the way we move about the world, as we are able to discover new places, projects and people before we step away from our computers and out into the world.
Case in point – Matador, a new web community created by travelers, for travelers. On their home page, Matador welcomes you to “a place to share travel stories & photos, meet people in the places you’re going, get info and advice from experts, become a paid travel writer, collaborate with local organizations, and get inspired everyday with articles about sustainability and world culture.”
It’s one of those sites that is pleasant to look at (lots of nice photos), easy to navigate and fun to just browse for travel ideas and inspiration. I’m particularly pleased with their focus on sustainability and cultural preservation. For example, today’s feature article is part of a series dealing with the intersection of environment, traditions and villagers’ rights in Namibia as the result of a proposed damming project.
For you budding travel writers, Matador has a fantastic feature called the “Bounty Board” where they post current writing and photography gigs that they (as well as other sites) are looking to fill. The board lets you view the current status and pay rate for each assignment as well.
A traveler’s classifieds listing, community bulletin board to connect with locals and other travelers in the places you are going, gear reviews and recommendations and a database of like-minded organizations around the world are some of the other offerings that give Matador my personal seal-of-approval.