At the end of each trip (usually on the flight home), we take a few minutes to inventory the events of our journey. The list we use (below and PDF version attached) asks about memorable events – high and low points of the trip – things you are certain you will always remember but, surprisingly, may forget over time. You may remember breathtaking vistas, but forget the tourist traps and bad meals. This can be a way to easily capture the scope of your trip with a few quick notes.
There are no right or wrong answers. Depending on your journey, some of the questions may not be applicable and some answers may be repeated. The intent is to jog the memory to capture events of the trip while it is still fresh. We each complete our own list independently and then compare notes afterwards. It is surprising that some of the most vivid images of a trip appear in our lists but have been forgotten in our journals.
Hopefully you will find this list helpful and a jumping off point to build your own set of questions. Let us know the other questions you would ask in the comments and we can include them in future updates.
| First impression | Most memorable moments |
| Favourite city | Favourite site |
| Favourite park or garden | Best scenery |
| Best Photo Ops (a.k.a. “Kodak moments”) | |
| Best place you stayed | Worst place you stayed |
| Best meal | Worst meal |
| Favourite foods | Favourite drink |
| Best mode of transport | Worst mode of transport |
| Favourite store | Best purchase |
| Favourite souvenir | |
| Funniest experience | Moment you wondered why you were there |
| Time you wished you were alone | Time you were glad you were not alone |
| Place you wish you could have spent more time | Place you wish you could have spent less time |
| Things you were glad you saw | Most romantic spot |
| What was better than expected | Most over-rated site or event |
| “I wouldn’t miss this for anything ...but what am I doing here?” | |
| Strangest word in a foreign language | |
| Coolest people you met | Kindest strangers |
| Oddest people you met | Ugliest Tourists |
| Best conversation | Worst conversation |
| Most notable event of culture shock | |
| Memorable unavoidable event | |
| Biggest learning experience | Biggest surprise |
| In spite of our best efforts… | |
| Biggest achievement | Biggest disappointment or regret |
| I am glad that I brought: | |
| If I were to do it again I would bring: | …I would not bring: |
| I must go back to | Place you could see yourself living |