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travel like a pro
WANDER
lUST
Clockwise from top: Pam (second from left) with friends in Hong Kong
Disneyland; monkeying around New York City; on Brooklyn Bridge; checking
out records at Princeton Record Exchange; self-portrait in Spain
no
limits
Every trip is an
adventure for
author and editor
Pam Pastor
For Pam Pastor, editor of
the “Super” section at the
Philippine Daily Inquirer,
the perks of being a
newspaper editor include
the opportunity to travel,
have a wonderful time and
write all about it.
Calling herself a laid-back
traveler, Pam is game for
any surprises that may
happen along the way. “I
don’t like planning every
minute of my trip,” she
admits. “When I go on
vacation, I usually leave
armed with a wishlist, not
a structured itinerary. I
think this is why things like
delayed or rerouted flights,
or misplaced luggage or
a change in the weather,
don’t bother me too much.
I like being surprised, I like
unplanned adventures, I
like letting things happen. I
relish being able to wake up
in a strange city and asking
myself, ‘Hmm, what do I feel
like doing today?’”
But even on holiday, Pam
is still in work mode. “People
think I’m crazy, because
one of the first things I do
before going on leave is
try to figure out how much
work I can do while I’m
away. I tell my contacts I will
be in this city or that city on
these dates, and try to get
access to people, events or
places I can write about. But
I really enjoy it.”
“Writing is a constant
in my life, even when I’m
on the road. I am often
taking notes and writing
stories about my trips in
my notebook and phone,”
she says. “I love writing
while cocooned inside an
airplane. A number of the
stories in my new book
were written on my phone
while riding the subways of
New York and London.”
With her passion for
writing and a good story,
“good food” and “great
company” as her guide, Pam
lets us in on her secrets for a
great travel experience.
PLAN BASEDON
YOUR PASSIONS AND
HOBBIES
I love reading so I always look
up book signings, literary
festivals and other events
in the cities I will be visiting.
This is how I’ve managed
to meet Ruth Reichl, Gillian
Flynn and John Green.
Obsessed with music?
Check if your favorite
bands and musicians have
concerts planned in or
near your destination. I’ve
managed to freak out [US
singer] Rachael Yamagata
because I’ve shown up at
her gigs in different cities.
Whether you’re into comics
or crafting, each city is
bound to have something
special to offer you. Go
see the popular attractions
if you want to, but don’t
be afraid to find your own
secret spots and discover
countries and cities in your
own way.
LOOK UP YOUR
HOTEL ON
TRIPADVISOR
That’s how I found out that
our hotel in New Orleans
was haunted, that guests
in my hotel in Toronto
had been robbed while
they were asleep, and that
someone found a bloody
sock under a mattress in
my hotel in Madrid. Your
hotel is your home away
from home, so research is
essential.
BRING A
POWER STRIP
These are the first things
I pack. We travel with so
many gadgets — phones,
