Monday 20 February 2012

Love Travelling? Love Pinterest? Here's good news then!


Pinterest is the newest hype on the internet.

An online pinboard, which lets you keep track of Websites, photos, recipes and whatever else you fancy by "pinning" them on your virtual board.

It's a great place to keep photos of places on your bucket list or where you have been.

But can you use Pinterest for travel planning? According to Gadling, you can!

Shoestring editor Conny Kaufmann is keeping a board there is well for her travel inspirations. Check it out here!

Sunday 19 February 2012

Shoestring needs your translation help!

Hey guys!

I'm hoping you can help me. I'm looking for people who are fluent in other languages who could translate 12 sentences for small-talk. This is for the Language Lessons section of the magazine.

So far, I have translations for German, French, Spanish and Swedish. All languages (even more obscure ones) are very welcome. If your language uses a different script, I would need the actual spelling (with the correct characters) and then a phonetic guide to pronouncing it all correctly.

The sentences are short and just along the lines of "Where is the station?" and "I booked a room for tonight" to help travellers ask their way around town. Knowing a bit of the local language can go a long way, and can determine how friendly and helpful the locals are towards you.

If you would like to help out, please send an email to editor@shoestring-magazine.com requesting the list of sentences for translation.

Thank you very much and Happy Travels!

Tuesday 14 February 2012

Cover selection



Issue # 6: February 2012



Issue #5: August 2011

Issue # 4: April 2011


Issue # 3: January / February 2011



Issue #2: October 2010


Issue # 1: May 2010

TEFL Online Deal

Shoestring issue # 6 features a story by Neil Bennion about Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).

UK residents interested in getting this qualification should check out www.groupon.co.uk today - a 120 hour online course is on offer today in the National Deals section!!

Sunday 12 February 2012

Shoestring issue # 6 out now!

The new issue of Shoestring is out now!

Among the stories featured in this issue are: Mount Everest off the beaten track, Teaching English as a foreign language, Exploring Cuba, Aboriginal Australia and Travelling through the 'Stans!

Go on, have a look!



Friday 10 February 2012

An apology

I know it has been pretty quiet on Shoestring lately.
Some of you even wondered whether it is ever coming back.

Let me assure you, it took a while, but Shoestring is back!

First of all, I would like to tell you that a new issue of Shoestring will be published very soon. I am just putting the finishing touches on it!

Secondly, this website will undergo a revamp and relaunch in 2012, and I am busy working on this behind the scenes. I apologise for the lack of updates.

As you know, Shoestring is completely voluntary. To be able to publish anything, I need you, the readers, to share their stories. Otherwise this would soon turn into a magazine that features only my own travel memories, and even though I do have travel experience, even I would run out of things to say eventually.

So sometimes, it does take a little longer than intended to get the pages together.

32 pages is not that much, you might argue. It is, if you put them together by yourself, from scratch. It takes time and consideration, both things, I have not had much of. Once I receive a story, the rest of the editorial responsibilities are mine. Sourcing photos, proof reading, layout, fact checking, and spreading the word about Shoestring, all this is currently a one woman job. A daunting task at times.

Imagine sitting in front of a blank page and having to fill it, make it look so good everybody will stop and read it. Now imagine staring at 32 blank pages.

I pride myself in the fact that Shoestring has come as far as it has for free! That means it is a free publication, free of paid advertising, and its reputation is built on word-of-mouth. The first issue was only ever meant to be read by a select handful of people at my university. Instead, it has gone global!

As much as I would love to, I am currently not in a position to turn Shoestring into a full-time job, even though this would be my dream job.

I hope you can understand, that Shoestring is a hobby. A very much loved but time-consuming hobby. So if an issue is published late, or the website is not updated on a daily basis, I apologise. I would like you to know though that I am always working on making the next issue of Shoestring the best yet! A magazine you are proud to be seen reading, and proud to be published in.

If I achieve that, then I have achieved my goal.

I hope you understand, and I also hope that you are looking forward to the next issue of Shoestring just as much as I am!

Happy Travels,

Conny
Editor-in-chief