This is an introduction to the Manitoban‘s tripped out feature edition, covering a range of travel stories submitted by some of our readers and editors, former and current university students, and one professor who organized a recent travel writing contest held jointly at the University of Manitoba and the City University of Hong Kong.

The battle between being a generic tourist and travelling to take in the local culture and cuisine in order to gain the “most genuine” experience, comes into question.

Popular obsessions to travel to every corner of the world are paired with newfound curiosity for uncovering the treasures in ones’ own backyard.

The establishment of bureaucratic routine is challenged by embracing liminal experience encountered through travel.

Policies in the public’s best interest are countered by costs of individual freedoms and community interests.

Top-down, internationally imposed standards are weighed against bottom-up, locally derived solutions to struggles.

Students recall their memories and personal connections to the University of Manitoba’s Leaf Rapids Service-Learning Experience and Icelandic Field School.

Grounded in culture, history, human rights, political and corporate development, social and economic struggles, and the environment, manifested uniquely in each author’s expression of their own experience, we will go on explore the very essence of travel writing from very different points of view.

Lost luggage: http://www.themanitoban.com/2015/07/lost-luggage-2/23936/

The smog: http://www.themanitoban.com/2015/07/the-smog/23933/

Business as usual: http://www.themanitoban.com/2015/07/business-as-usual/23926/

Change in perspective: http://www.themanitoban.com/2015/07/a-change-in-perspective/23898/

Lotus-eater vibes: http://www.themanitoban.com/2015/07/lotus-eater-vibes/23865/

We are all tourists: http://www.themanitoban.com/2015/07/we-are-all-tourists/23896/

City girl gone bush: http://www.themanitoban.com/2015/07/city-girl-gone-bush/23861/

One student tells all: http://www.themanitoban.com/2015/07/one-student-tells-all/23859/