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| Professional/Personal Overview |
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A perpetually-moving travel writer with experience in over 60 countries who has written hundreds of stories for National Geographic Traveler, Lifestyle+Travel, Get Lost, Paperplane, Wanderlust, The Independent, USA Today, NineMSN Travel, Emirates Open Skies, J mag, Gulf Life, Garuda, Ritz-Carlton, Voyageur, and MGM Mirage M Lifestyle magazines among others; some 50 guidebooks for Lonely Planet, Dorling Kindersley, Rough Guides, Footprint, Thomas Cook Publishers, and AA guides; and loads of digital content, coffee table books, walking tours, hotel reviews, destination videos, and travel blogs. 'Based' out of Dubai, I've been living out of my suitcase for almost 4 years, bouncing around the planet on assignments with my co-writer/husband/photographer Terry Carter www.terencecarterphotography.com |
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| Work Samples |
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(9/20/2007)
This is a small selection of published work. If you'd like to see more, email me and I will gladly provide more clippings. I can also forward samples from our guidebooks and other books. Also visit my blog Cool Travel Guide, where you will find more content, links to my published work, and interviews
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Travel Articles in Newspapers |
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(Syndicated in Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Age, in travel pages and online, 11/23/2007)
Arabesque, Disneyesque and clearly taking growth supplements, Dubai has reached a turning point. It's famous enough so that everyone knows something about it (even if its just a glimpse of tennis pros hitting a ball on the Burj Al Arab helipad) but not yet popular enough so that people haven't stoppe
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(Syndicated in newspapers throughout Australia: Sydney Morning Herald, Melbourne Age, Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, newscom.au, etc, 10/11/2007)
With a reputation for long nights and early mornings, Buenos Aires has always had a thumping club scene. When house music took the world by storm in the 1980s, dance clubs opened all over BA. Now, Cattaneo is one of the world's hottest DJs and the club scene is incomparable.
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(Syndicated throughout Australian newspapers: Sydney Morning Herald, Melbourne Age, Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Advertiser, Sunday Mail, news.com.au, etc, 10/10/2007)
In contrast to the sleek, shiny, squeaky-clean shopping malls, the cacophony, colour and chaos of Dubai's souqs is what makes them so appealing...
The city's souqs remain full of character and still have the reputation as the best in Arabia.
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(Houston Chronicle, Arizona Daily Star & others; King Syndicated Publications, 4/10/2007)
Old Istanbul, with its Byzantine architecture, Islamic mosques and Grand Bazaar, has enough to occupy visitors for several days. But when you want to try a hip bar, eat a good meal, shop, or see some art, Sultanahmet holds little appeal. So where do those longing to discover 'cool' Istanbul go?
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(Houston Chronicle, King Syndicated Publications, 3/5/2007)
"Today you mob are Mulgana people," says Capes, a handsome, 30-something former football player. While scores of tourists wade knee-deep in Monkey Mia's inviting waters, awaiting the arrival of its namesake dolphins, we opt for a bush walk instead -- with Capes, an aboriginal from the Mulgana tribe.
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(USA Today, 9/27/2006)
As the aircraft engines throttle back on approach to Dubai, a glance out the window affords a glimpse of an offshore oil rig's bright orange flames. Arriving passengers see workers finishing the shell of a third terminal, a testament to Dubai's status as one of the world's fastest-growing travel hubs
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Travel Content Online |
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(National Geographic Traveler, 1/1/2010)
Resident writers Lara Dunston and Terry Carter consulted contacts as diverse as Chef Gordon Ramsay and DJ Sticky Fingers to create this comprehensive guide covering the best hotels, restaurants, nightlife, festivals, walking tours, shops, art galleries, and more.
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(my travel blog, 1/1/2010)
A blog about the things that are cool about travel, the things that inspire us to travel, and what's inspiring about travel, Cool Travel Guide provides insights on destinations, travel tips, and reflections on travel writing, travel media & the life of a travel writer.
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(Viator Travel, 8/13/2009)
Dubai, with its scores of malls and atmospheric bazaars is still the region's King of Shopping. And according to my husband, Terry, I'm the Queen of Shopping, so, here's my Ultimate Dubai Shopping Guide, or, 10 Reasons Why You Should Shop Dubai.
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(Viator Travel, 6/15/2009)
The South Australian capital, Adelaide, must be Australia's most underrated city. It is also one of the most attractive with lush botanic gardens, shady parks, charming beachside suburbs, elegant historic buildings and splendid old churches. The kind of city that makes you want to explore it on an ol
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(Viator Travel, 5/22/2009)
The awe-inspiring Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is immense. Not Kakadu big, but big enough so that you need to plan your visit with precision as some activities and sights are best at dawn, others at sunset, and certain things should not be done in the middle of the day. This three-day itinerary cov
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(Viator Travel, 5/18/2009)
For time-poor visitors to Australia's Red Centre, Alice Springs is merely a sleepover before visiting that big red rock in the centre of Australia. However 'The Alice', as it's known, offers far more than lodgings for the night. It's the best place in Australia to buy Aboriginal art, with an engaging
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(i-escape, 5/13/2009)
On the rugged southwest coast of Australia's second-largest island, this sleek low-rise eco-resort and spa blends beautifully with remote Kangaroo Island's pristine bush environment - and its furry residents!
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(Viator Travel, 5/11/2009)
Every year around May, as the spectacular storms of Banggerreng (the 'knock ‘em down storm season', as the local Aboriginals call it) start to become less frequent as the region moves into Yegge (the cooler but still humid season), the tourism machine of the Top End shifts into top gear.
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(Viator Travel, 5/6/2009)
Australia's best-known national park, Kakadu, may be a must-do on most travellers' epic around-Australia journeys. But we think it's a destination in its own right, and one of Australia's top sights. World-heritage listed for its natural and cultural heritage, Kakadu is best visited after the wet sea
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(Viator Travel, 4/30/2009)
For many, Darwin is little more than the departure point for more exotic adventures east, west or south, but Darwin is an intriguing city, so set aside a couple of days to get over the jet-lag, and take in the museums, markets and multiculturalism of this steamy city.
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(Viator Travel, 3/4/2009)
Abu Dhabi, the dazzling UAE capital, has been starting to steal some of the spotlight from Dubai. The attention is mainly due to the recent opening of a colossal mosque dedicated to late President and founder of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed - a mosque that some writers have likened to the Taj Mahal.
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(Nine MSN Travel Website, 2/3/2009)
Going on that great Aussie road trip and planning on doing it all? Making a wrong choice when hiring a vehicle can leave you missing out on some of Australia's best scenery — or stranded in the outback.
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(Viator Travel, 9/14/2008)
Longtime residents of Dubai, Lara Dunston and Terry Carter give you the inside scoop on how to experience the real Dubai in this guide to eating, sleeping and sightseeing, aimed at first-time visitors.
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(World Travel Guide, 9/11/2008)
One of the most isolated cities on Earth, Perth is as far away from Sydney as London is from Beirut. Having grown up in isolation, the city has neither the pretensions nor pace of eastern Australia's cities. Extensively updated by Lara Dunston, this guide covers the latest hotels, restaurants, shops,
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(Viator Travel, 9/10/2008)
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan puts many people off travelling to the Middle East during the period, but travel writers and MidEast residents since 1998, Lara Dunston and Terry Carter thinks it is a fabulous time to visit.
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(NineMSN Travel, 9/2/2008)
When travellers think of Cyprus, they think of out-of-control tourist development, girls-gone-wild in Agia Napa, tacky British pubs and crass 'gentlemen clubs'. Sadly, they're thinking of the South. The North is something else!
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(Nine MSN Travel Website, 7/16/2008)
Leave the tourists to the crowded beaches and explore the undiscovered gems off-the-beaten track in Crete.
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(Nine MSN Travel Website, 7/1/2008)
A guide to helping you live like a local in Dubai: what not to miss, where not to go, and near-the-beaten-track places in Dubai, written by resident writers Lara Dunston and Terry Carter, authors of half a dozen guidebooks to Dubai.
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(NineMSN Travel, 1/31/2008)
Dazzling Dubai. Endless sunshine, superb eating, great shopping, and a glam nightlife. What's not to love? And yet Dubai is a polarising place. As the world's fastest growing city expands at a frenetic speed, and with its growth comes gridlocked traffic, pollution and inflation, Dubai has become one
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(Triporati, 1/1/2008)
Terry and I have written travel guides for Triporati to Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Bergen, Budapest, Bulgaria, Copenhagen, Cyprus, Denmark, Dubai, Estonia, Krakow, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Norway, Oman, Poland, Riga, Sofia, Tallinn, Tokaj, Vilnius, and Warsaw, all places we've lived in or spent time.
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(Shermans Travel, 1/1/2008)
A center for international finance and sophisticated shopping, Zurich's devotees love it for its high living standards, cosmopolitan nature, charming medieval town, and gastronomic delights. One of the world's most livable cities, locals swear the lake is so clean you can drink from it.
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(Shermans Travel, 1/1/2008)
Norway's easygoing capital and largest city is a lovely place to linger. Mosey around Oslo's many museums, feast on fresh seafood, bask in the sun in one the city's many parks, shop for cool Scandinavian house wares, or hike in the surrounding hills.
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(Shermans Travel, 1/1/2008)
Unassuming Abu Dhabi has long been popular with expats who love it for its sense of tradition, clear blue skies, year-round sunshine, and laidback lifestyle. This comprehensive travel guide covers neighbourhoods, things to do, hotels, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, day trips, and other tips.
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(i-escape, 11/18/2007)
Chiang Mai may boast Thailand's best bazaars and temples, but until recently it was decidedly short of small, stylish lodgings. Built in 2004, the 'Colonial House' is a welcome addition, a chic yet homely B&B owned by an architect and his mother, it's a bit like staying with your Thai grandma.
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(Charles and Marie, 3/21/2007)
A study in perpetual motion these globetrotting travel writers scour the world for what's new, what's always going to remain a classic, and what's dying to be rediscovered. Enjoy the best inflight magazine you'll ever read courtesy of lifestyle site Charles and Marie.
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(Lonely Planet, 1/2/2007)
Lara Dunston, author of the Dubai city guide, goes into battle with the paparazzi: "While the film festival promised scores of celebrities, our 'VIP' press status got us a great view of the red carpet arrivals - from behind. In true Dubai style there was a 'VVIP' media list. Welcome to Dubai!"
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(Lonely Planet, 5/5/2006)
Returning to Greece for the umpteenth time, Lonely Planet authors Lara Dunston and Terry Carter are on a quest to seek out the least-visited ouzerias, most scenic spots and most sublime vistas, from Thessaloniki to Monemvasia.
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Magazine Articles |
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(Gulf Life, Gulf Air's In-Flight Magazine, 10/3/2009)
Mustafa Ali is not the kind of man you expect to see on a Power 100 list. A diminutive, ginger-bearded man with a generous smile and twinkling eyes, Syria's greatest sculptor is known for his big heart and bronze sculptures. Yet he has also been named the Arab world's most influential cultural figure
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(Gulf Life, Gulf Air's In-Flight Magazine, 10/2/2009)
Could a classical pianist go from Chopin to Cole Porter and an opera singer swing from Bizet to Billy Holiday? While its a departure for pianist Ghazwan Zerkli and opera singer Rasha Ruzk their passion for jazz and accomplished musicianship prove a potent mix during their first jazz concert together.
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(Gulf Life, Gulf Air's In-Flight Magazine, 10/1/2009)
Damascus may be better known for its boutique hotels and traditional restaurants than chill out lounges, but Zen on the Omayad Hotel rooftop is set to change that. Get any images of old courtyards and trickling fountains out of your head. This hot spot would be very much at home in Beirut or Dubai.
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(Gulf Life, Gulf Air's In-Flight Magazine, 9/9/2009)
For over 30 years, customers have flocked nightly to Al-Nawfara cafe in Damascus to listen to tales told by Syria's last surviving storyteller. Lara Dunston interviews Abu Shady before he takes to his small stage at the Old City's most atmospheric cafe.
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(National Geographic Traveler, 9/1/2009)
While neighboring emirate Dubai has been attracting visitors for sun, sand and shopping, Abu Dhabi’s rulers have been strategically developing infrastructure to lure a different kind of traveler. Abu Dhabi has always been the New York to Dubai's LA, more serious, intellectual, deeply devoted to its
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(Gulf Life, Gulf Air's In-Flight Magazine, 9/1/2009)
Dripping with chandeliers, this big, plush, marble-laden five-star may not match the charm of Al Jdeida historic boutique hotels but it fills a much-needed niche in Aleppo with its modern conveniences and the services you expect of a Sheraton. The icing on the cake is its superb location slap-bang in
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(Gulf Life, Gulf Air's In-Flight Magazine, 7/1/2009)
In an era where media-obsessed chefs spend more time staring down the lens of a television camera than staring down an errant sous chef, Pierre Gagnaire is an enigma. Lara Dunston & Terry Carter review the Dubai restaurant of this Michelin-starred chef.
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(Connect, Business Travel magazine, 7/1/2009)
Set along the Swan River’s stunning lake-like expanse, with manicured lawns and leafy parks on its shores, LARA DUNSTON takes us on an amble around the unhurried city of Perth on this walking tour of Western Australia's sunny capital.
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(J Mag, Jazeera Airways In-Flight Magazine, 6/1/2009)
Lara Dunston checks in at the top hotels in Antalya, on the Turkish Mediterranean. Reviews of Hillside Su, Alp Pasa Boutique Hotel, Mardan Palace Hotel & Wow Topkapi Palace.
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(J Mag, Jazeera Airways In-Flight Magazine, 5/1/2009)
In a pioneering eco-village in Northern Cyprus Lara Dunston discovers the joys of the simple life. "Shepherds are the most content people in the world," Ismael Cemal tells us. Indeed, as we have driven around Northern Cyprus, we have seen shepherds dozing in the back of their pick-up trucks as their
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(Connect, Business Travel magazine, 2/1/2009)
Expect a professional but straight-talking business style in Australia, write LARA DUNSTON and TERRY CARTER, in their glossary of down-under business etiquette, tips and tricks.
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(Connect, Business Travel magazine, 1/2/2009)
Breathtakingly beautiful and endlessly beguiling, from beaches with aquamarine seas and snowy sands backed by red rock formations, to vast verdant monsoon plains, tropical forests and arid deserts, the behemoth of the southern seas reveals several continents worth of natural diversity.
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(Hemispheres, United Airlines Inflight magazine, 1/1/2009)
Don your darkest shades and prepare to be dazzled by Dubai. And not just by the glaring desert light or gleaming skyscrapers. Sure you've seen the glossy images in the media: swish malls, towering buildings, manmade islands. But this Arabian Gulf metropolis is more much than a string of superlatives.
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(Lifestyle+Travel magazine, 1/1/2009)
Inspired by Baz Luhrmann's film Australia, a sweeping love story set in tropical Darwin and the rugged outback, Lara Dunston and Terence Carter embark on an epic adventure of their own: one packed with drama, action and romance, but without the dust and flies.
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(J Mag, Jazeera Airways In-Flight Magazine, 10/1/2008)
A profile of Ghiath Machnok, the architect and general manager of Art House, a hotel-cum-art space that has revolutionised the arts and cultural scene in Damascus.
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(Wanderlust (UK), 9/1/2008)
From its wildly beautiful coastline to its raw untrammelled interior, Australia's 'other half' is one of the world's great adventure playgrounds. Lara Dunston guides you through the best of the state.
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(Gulf Life, Gulf Air's In-Flight Magazine, 8/1/2008)
Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten holds the most Michelin- and New York Times-stars of any chef in New York. We interviewed him at the opening of his Spice Market restaurant at the new W Hotel Istanbul. His first foray into this part of the world, it definitely isn't his last.
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(Voyageur magazine, 8/1/2008)
The scent of spices in the air, towering modern skyscrapers and the ubiquitous cry of the muezzin: the jewel of the United Arab Emirates is a city of beloved traditions and ambitious dreams for the future.
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(BBC History Magazine, 7/30/2008)
Terry Carter and Lara Dunston, authors of half a dozen Lonely Planet guidebooks on Dubai, provide a rundown of the city's top ten historical sights: Dubai Creek, Shindagha, Al Fahidi Fort, Dubai Museum, Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House, Bastakiya, Al Ahmadiya School, Heritage House, and Majlis Ghorfat U
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(J Mag, Jazeera Airways In-Flight Magazine, 6/1/2008)
When advertising creative director Ayse Bali began cheeky t-shirt brand Ottoman empire four years ago with two friends, it was merely a hobby. At first, they were only able to open a tiny shop in the chic Nisantasi neighbourhood. Now, their second store in swanky Kanyon mall is two years old and thei
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(J Mag, Jazeera Airways In-Flight Magazine, 6/1/2008)
With the opening of W hotel, Istanbul has received another massive injection of cool. The W is situated in former residences for Dolmagahce Palace staff in a series of neo-classical row houses dating from 1870. But there's nothing old-fashioned about the atmosphere inside...
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(J Mag, Jazeera Airways In-Flight Magazine, 6/1/2008)
For some visitors a trip to Cyprus is all about catching some sun on the island's glorious beaches. Yet there's much to experience beyond the resorts - it's time to head off the beaten track and go beyond the beach.
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(Gulf Life, Gulf Air's In-Flight Magazine, 5/1/2008)
Abu Dhabi is using profits from its oil sales to build the world's first sustainable city in the desert - powered by solar energy. Terry Carter and Lara Dunston take a virtual tour of the eco-city.
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(Open Skies, Emirates Airlines In-Flight Magazine, 5/1/2008)
Syria's capital is experiencing a style and cultural revolution like never before. One of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, Damascus traditionally attracts travellers to its sublime mosques, well-preserved Old City and atmospheric souqs. Today visitors are flocking here for its mo
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(Gulf Marketing Review, 5/1/2008)
If the success of low-cost airlines in Europe is anything to go by, their proliferation in the GCC will lead to an increase in the number of and diversity of inbound tourists, from flashpackers to budget business travellers.
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Dubai, the city of perpetual motion
(Perfect Fit magazine, 4/30/2008)
From tiny trading town to global powerhouse, this Arabian Gulf metropolis has had a fast and furious rise since the discovery of oil in the 1960s. Terry Carter and Lara Dunston look at the city with a can-do attitude and a reputation as a destination where every visitor is treated like a Sheikh.
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(Ritz Carlton Magazine, 4/1/2008)
A spirited Arabian city, go-getting Dubai keeps reaching for the skies. Audacious and ambitious, the world's fastest growing city is never satisfied. Sleek sky-scraping buildings rise overnight and palm-shaped islands spring up from the sea. At first sight, this desert metropolis appears to be one bi
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(Gulf Life, Gulf Air's In-Flight Magazine, 4/1/2008)
"I don't like to talk about 'what if we do this or that', I prefer to make projects happen," says Claudia Cellini, 33 year-old curator and co-owner of Dubai's most cutting-edge contemporary art gallery, The Third Line. Her 30 year-old business partner Sunny Rahbar agrees, "What I most enjoy is the sp
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(Gulf Life, Gulf Air's In-Flight Magazine, 4/1/2008)
Fashion entrepreneur, photographer, artist and accessories designer Sheikha Maisa Al Qassimi is the owner of Amzaan, one of Dubai's chicest boutiques. You could forgive someone so talented for acting like a princess (she doesn't!), but Sheikha Maisa has the confidence and drive that's becoming more a
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(Gulf Life, Gulf Air's In-Flight Magazine, 4/1/2008)
Dubai-born Egyptian Shehab Hamad has little to be downbeat about on turning 30, having packed in a long list of achievements for his age. Recognized as one of Dubai's foremost culture, clubbing, fashion and lifestyle entrepreneurs, Hamad has applied the same flexible, multi-tasking approach to the de
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(Canvas magazine, 3/1/2008)
Talk to any young adult living in the United Arab Emirates and they'll tell you how, as a child, their families drove them to Dubai on a special outing to see the country's first skyscraper, the World Trade Centre. That was in 1979!
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(Get Lost, 2/1/2008)
Sailing out of Khasab's harbour shortly after daybreak on the open deck of a traditioal wooden dhow, it's hard to decide where to look - should we direct our gaze at the pod of handsome bottlenose dolphins swimming playfully beside our boat or at the flotilla of some hundred or so speedboats?
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(MGM magazine, 1/2/2008)
You might think you were in Lisbon when looking down at the waves of the black and white Portuguese paving as you stroll the atmospheric streets of old Macau. But look up at the enchanting arcaded European architecture, the red-gated Chinese temple guarded by two lion statues or the pastel-painted ba
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(360 design magazine, 1/1/2008)
While a shopping mall - even one with a ski resort and a chic Kempinski hotel - is passé in most cities, in Dubai, with its oppressive summer heat, the mall simply makes sense. It's also logical that it's home to most modish stores and, increasingly, stylish restaurants.
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(Get Lost, 12/1/2007)
There is more to the United Arab Emirates' dazzling city-state of Dubai than sun, sand and shopping. This 48 hour guide to Dubai takes you to lively local beaches and gritty backstreets to show you a fascinating Emirati culture that's rich in tradition.
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(Paperplane, 11/1/2007)
Fresh from a meeting with its bank manager, BA is offering the sensory experience of a European capital but at a third of the price and with treble the passion. This 16 page guide covers the hippest restaurants, bars, cafes, clubs, sights, and things to do in Buenos Aires.
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(Lifestyle+Travel magazine, 9/1/2007)
"We are watching a herd of beige and black camels grazing, dwarfed by colossal peach-colored Tal Mireeb, which at 287 meters is the largest sand dune in the United Arab Emirates. We are on the edge of the Empty Quarter. This is the real desert. This is explorer Wilfred Thesiger's Arabia."
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(Lifestyle+Travel magazine, 9/1/2007)
"There's something magical about driving through the Australian outback in that golden pre-dusk light. The rust-red sand shimmers as it creeps on to the bitumen, the silver-bark wattle and tiny cassia flowers blaze a buttercup yellow, and the red kangaroo paws are striking against the cerulean sky."
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(Paperplane, 4/1/2007)
Atmospheric alleyways, backstreet speakeasies, and an emerging fashion, music and art scene mean that there's a lot more than shopping malls to discover in Dubai. Lara Dunston and Terry Carter reveal some of the more interesting facets of Dubai.
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(Lifestyle+Travel magazine, 8/1/2006)
Dubai may have a reputation of being a cultureless city with little to offer behind its multimillion dollar hotel and retail facades, but independent travellers wanting to discover the real Dubai, to see how its people live, will, with a little effort, be rewarded. (Email for a PDF)
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(Lifestyle+Travel magazine, 6/1/2006)
Beirut's Rue Gouraud is buzzing with fusion restaurants, funky bars, and buzzy dance clubs. While the 2006 war put a damper on things for a while, Beirutis love nothing more than living the good life and the city is humming once again.
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(Lifestyle+Travel magazine, 6/1/2006)
Muscat is about as magical as Gulf cities get and the maze of alleys that make up Muttrah Souq is one of the Arabian Peninsula's most atmospheric bazaars. In Muscat, Arab hospitality can be experienced at its luxuriant best at The Chedi hotel.
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(Lifestyle+Travel magazine, 2/1/2006)
'Motoring the 1011 kilometre Marrakesh to Mhamed route ahead of a royal entourage, Lara Dunston and Terry Carter enjoy the splendour of grand riads, the chaos of spice-filled souks, and the ever-changing wild mountain-ridden scenery so beloved of the movie industry.'
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48 Hours in... Travel Features - Newspapers |
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(The Independent newspaper London, 2/21/2007)
Doha's December 2006 Asian Games with its extravagant opening and closing ceremonies transfixed television viewers around the globe. That success, combined with its mix of traditional souks and opulent hotels is helping to turn this seafront Gulf city in Qatar into a must-see destination.
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(The Independent newspaper London, 2/17/2007)
The Gulf city promises sun, sand and shopping, of course, but there's so much more to Dubai. A city of the future, it also has a fascinating past - and combines a rich heritage with modern style.
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(The Independent newspaper London, 10/7/2006)
Having soaked up the atmosphere of the souk, go dolphin spotting or relax with a fresh mango juice in Oman's capital by the sea.
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| Work Info |
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Expertise |
| Director |
10 Years |
| Writer |
24 Years |
| Book Author |
14 Years |
Specialty |
| Education |
10 Years |
| Travel |
12 Years |
| Arts & Humanities |
24 Years |
Total Media Industry Experience
22 Years |
Media Client List (# assignments
last 2 yrs)
Fodors (11+), and many more - contact me for details (11+), Gulf Life magazine (11+), Lonely Planet - Guidebooks (11+), J mag - Jazeera Airways magazine (11+), Lifestyle+Travel magazine (11+), Triporati travel website (11+), Thomas Cook Publishers (6-10), Viator travel website (6-10), Lonely Planet - Digital (6-10), AA guides (6-10), Dorling Kindersley guidebooks (3-5), Lonely Planet - Television (3-5), Lonely Planet - Trade & Reference (3-5), Garuda magazine (3-5), Connect (Business Travel) magazine (3-5), The Independent newspaper (3-5), National Geographic Traveler (3-5), Nine MSN Travel website (3-5), One+ magazine (1-2), Paperplane magazine (1-2), Ritz-Carlton magazine (1-2), Rough Guides (1-2), Voyageur magazine (1-2), Wanderlust magazine (1-2), Thumbnail Guides (1-2), USA Today (1-2), Get Lost magazine (1-2), Hemispheres (1-2), Insight guides (1-2), MGM Mirage Lifestyle magazine (1-2), Emirates Open Skies magazine (1-2), Footprint guidebooks (1-2), 360 magazine (1-2), Canvas (1-2) |
Corporate Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)
Contact me for details (11+) |
Other Work History
I started out as a political researcher while doing a Communications degree 21 years ago, but began making films and writing film criticism soon after. I worked as a photographic gallery publicist and co-founded a successful short film festival; wrote, directed and produced numerous short films and over two years made an independent feature film Come By Chance; its success led to myriad speaking, writing, teaching and travel opportunities. In the reflective period following I wrote a teen fiction novel published by HarperCollins in 1996 and began a Masters degree in International Studies. My research took me to Latin America and soon after I began to write on travel. An 8 year stint in film academia in the UAE followed, along with a Masters degree in scriptwriting and the beginning of PhD research (on hold) on connections between film and travel. A wonderfully serendipitous full-time freelance career in travel writing followed. |
Computer Skills
My MacBook G4 travels with me everywhere and is loaded with myriad applications - contact me for specifics. |
Technical Skills
Photography, cinematography, and editing on film and digitally on Avid and Final Cut Pro. |
Equipment
Can competently operate film and video camera and audio equipment. I use iPOD to produce podcasts and have several digital cameras. |
Foreign Language Skills
While my guidebooks have been translated into numerous languages, I speak decent Spanish, bad French, a little Arabic, greetings in about 20 other languages, plus a 5 year old's Russian. |
Work Permits & Visas
As an Australian I don't need visas for most countries although I held a residency visa in the UAE for 8 years. |
Unions
No memberships - I'm a citizen of the world, quite literally! |
References
I have myriad written references - professional, personal and academic - from editors and publishers to academic deans. Many of these people can be contacted by phone or email. Please contact me for specifics. |
Awards
Young Achiever in the Arts, Australia |
Associations
There are no opportunities to join professional associations in the UAE, which has been my base for almost 9 years, however, in Australia I held memberships for various professional screenwriting, writing and directing associations. |
Other
QUALIFICATIONS: BA Communications (Film and Writing), University of Technology Sydney; MA International Studies (Latin America): research on Latin American Cinema, University of Technology Sydney; MA Screenwriting, Bournemouth University;
PhD (on hold), Queens University Belfast, research on the connections between film and travel.
TRAVEL EXPERIENCE: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, UK, USA, Uruguay
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Freelancer Availability
I freelance full-time. I am willing to travel anywhere. I have access to a car. |
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| mediabistro.com Questions |
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What book is on your nightstand right now?
Who has time to read with all this writing?
What do you wish you'd learned sooner?
How to pack light.
Describe your dream assignment
My current life.
What's the hardest work project you've ever tackled?
The next one - because I treat every project as if it was the most important.
What's the best job you've ever had?
The one I have now.
What's your idea of a perfect Saturday night?
Doing whatever the locals do on a Saturday night in the city I'm currently in.
What's your idea of a perfect Monday morning?
Doing whatever the locals do on a Monday morning in the city I'm currently in.
In ten years, I want to be:
Wondering where I'm going to travel to and what I'm going to be writing next.
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