Travel theme: Simplify

Posted on August 1, 2014 by ailsapm

The first week of August is Simplify Your Life week, and it’s always good to be reminded that life doesn’t have to be so complicated. With a nod to the week that’s in it, I just got through re-reading Henry David Thoreau’s study on simple living, Walden. (It’s available free on Wikisource here.) When I first though about using Simplify for the travel theme, my mind flew to this photo taken along Salmon La Sac Creek in the North Cascades – how better to simplify your life than to spend quality time doing something you love with your best friend?

boating, man's best friend, washington, salmon le sac, travel, travelogue, photography, ailsa prideaux-mooney

Another method of simplifying is to embrace minimalism. It doesn’t get much more minimalistic or more beautiful than a Zen garden like this one at the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.

bloedel reserve, seattle, bainbridge island, garden, gardens, rain, travel, travelogue, ailsa prideaux-mooney, zen garden

One of the easiest ways to simplify is to eliminate distractions and that works for photography too. A single subject can make for a pleasing composition.

swan, hamptons, the hamptons, east hampton, town pond, travel, usa, new york, long island

white water lily international women's day

The main goal of simplifying your life is to rid yourself of the inessential in order to make room for what is important to you. I’m working on creating space to do more writing so am carving out chunks of time with no tv or radio to distract and no phone or email to interrupt. What would you do with more space and time? If you would like to join in this week’s travel theme (everyone’s welcome) here’s what to do:

  • Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Simplify
  • Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
  • Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
  • Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS!

xxx Ailsa

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. – Hans Hoffman

Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify. – Henry David Thoreau

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About ailsapm

Hi there! I’m Ailsa Prideaux-Mooney. I’ve lived in many places, and travelled to many more. I had a lot of fun getting there and being there, wherever there happened to be at the time. I climbed a castle wall in Czesky Krumlov, abseiled down cliffs to go caving in the west of Ireland, slept on the beach in Paros, got chased by a swarm of bees in Vourvourou (ok that wasn’t fun, but it was exciting), learned flower arranging in Tokyo, found myself in the middle of a riot in Seoul, learned to snowboard in Salzburg, got lost in a labyrinth in Budapest and had my ice cream stolen by a gull in Cornwall. And I’m just getting started. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read so far, I’d love you to follow my travelogue - wheresmybackpack.com - and remember, anyone who tries to tell you it’s a small world hasn’t tried to see it all.
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122 Responses to Travel theme: Simplify

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  1. Pingback: Fisherman | Tim Wolverson – Photography

  2. Pingback: Travel Theme : Simplify | A Day In The Life

  4. Hendra Taruna's avatar Hendra Taruna says:
    August 3, 2014 at 7:29 am

    Hi Ailsa here is my simplified entry for this week’s travel theme, https://abualbanie.wordpress.com/2014/08/03/travel-theme-simplify/

  5. Pingback: The Challenge of Challenges | Freddy's Photo Project

  6. Pingback: Travel theme: Simplify | Meg Travels

  8. Pingback: Travel Theme: Simplify | My Photos, My Words, My Life

  9. Richard Chubb's avatar Richard Chubb says:
    August 3, 2014 at 1:51 pm

    Hi, I am new here, but thought I would give it a go. Check it out, thanks

    http://snapsandstories.com/2014/08/03/travel-theme-simplify/

  10. Pingback: SIMPLIFY | TALKING-STORY WITH PICTURES

  12. KILA's avatar KILA says:
    August 3, 2014 at 3:00 pm

    the simple life in hawaii…

    SIMPLIFY

  13. Pingback: Simple, yet effective | Pretty Packed

  15. Pingback: Simplify | Travel with Intent

  17. lolaWi's avatar lolaWi says:
    August 4, 2014 at 1:55 pm

    hi ailsa, love your photos. here’s my entry: http://lolawi.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/travel-theme-simplify/
    thanks!

  18. Pingback: Travel theme: Simplify | The Unfinished Travel Project

  20. Pingback: Travel Theme: Simplify | a vacation in my mind

  21. Sheri Garvin's avatar Sheri Garvin says:
    August 4, 2014 at 5:16 pm

    Good topic – this blog entry just fell in my lap today, and here I was hoping for a challenge. Maybe I will do a second one! http://avacationinmymind.com/2014/08/04/travel-theme-simplify/

  22. Pingback: Simplifying | Art and Fiction

  23. Pingback: Travel theme: Simplify | Border Crossings

  24. maamej's avatar maamej says:
    August 5, 2014 at 2:36 am

    Lovely challenge & especially like the first picture. This is my first time, although I’ve been following other people’s responses to your challenges for a while – so hello from the antipodes. http://maamej.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/travel-theme-simplify/

  25. Pingback: Travel theme: Simplify | Let There be Peace on Earth

  26. Pingback: Simple magnetism | Le Drake Noir

  27. Pingback: Raining Molten Lead | Jaspa's Journal

  28. Jaspa's avatar Jaspa says:
    August 5, 2014 at 1:49 pm

    Hi Ailsa, sorry my entry is a bit late this week, but I’m away at the moment. Anyway, I love the photo of the dog in the canoe. I have to admit that my contribution is a bit tenuous (as you will see), but hopefully you’ll give me a bit of leeway, since I’m travelling… http://jaspasjourney.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/raining-molten-lead/

  29. Pingback: Travel theme: Simplify | Antti Johansson

  30. Antti J.'s avatar Antti J. says:
    August 5, 2014 at 4:12 pm

    Hello Ailsa 🙂
    Challenging topic but here is my contribution: http://anttijohansson.net/2014/08/06/travel-theme-simplify/

  31. Pingback: Travel Theme: Simplicity | Sangria Stained Lips

  32. Sima's avatar simaroseblossom says:
    August 5, 2014 at 9:02 pm

    I like this theme because it’s flexible! I hope you enjoy! http://sangriastainedlips.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/travel-theme-simplicity/

  33. Pingback: Travel theme: Simplify | Cee's Photography

  35. My traveled road (@IUwoRldTraveler)'s avatar My traveled road (@IUwoRldTraveler) says:
    August 6, 2014 at 6:45 am

    Thanks for the inspiring and motivation post. With more time I’d dedicate it to travel, volunteer time to help others, and being more fit.

  36. Loca Gringa's avatar Loca Gringa says:
    August 6, 2014 at 8:25 am

    Ailsa … you continue to make the creative juices flow. Thank you so much for that. Here is my take on “SIMPLIFY” … cheers!

    TRAVEL THEME: SIMPLIFY

  37. Pingback: Travel theme: Simplify « Sasieology

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  40. Pingback: Travel Theme: Simplify | Jinan Daily Photo

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  42. Pingback: Travel Theme: Simplify | Natsukashi Kansai

  43. smkelly8's avatar smkelly8 says:
    August 6, 2014 at 1:26 pm

    The Zen masters know all about simplification: http://wp.me/p1xQ2c-aV

  44. Pingback: Simplifying the Not-So-Simple Life | The Beauty Along the Road

  45. Jemma Jones's avatar Jemma Jones says:
    August 6, 2014 at 9:36 pm

    What an interesting post Ailsa…I will need to have a think about this week’s theme…I post will follow soon!!

  46. Pingback: Travel Theme: Simplify | Rainbow Bakery

  47. Pingback: travel theme: simplify | my sweetpainteddreams

  48. Pingback: Travel theme: Simplify | Completely Disappear

  49. Torbjorn's avatar Torbjorn says:
    August 7, 2014 at 11:08 am

    Hello,
    If you like backpacking and simple travel you should do my quiz at:
    http://www.quizmastery.com/quiz-what-vacation-are-you/
    Best wishes / Torbjorn

  50. Pingback: Travel Theme: Simplify | Beijing Daily Photo 2

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