Travel Photo Roulette #67 – Travel Fails!

By Stuart Edwards in Blog, Travel Funnies, Travel Photo Essays

Woo hoo! We’ve finally won Travel Photo Roulette!

Our entry to Travel Photo Roulette # 66 – “Markets”

Noel over at Travel Photo Discovery choose our entry to the last round of Travel Photo Roulette – themed around “Markets” as the winner! So big thanks Noel!

We’re super excited to host Travel Photo Roulette #67 – and we know that this week is going to be hilarious!

This week the theme is:

✈ TRAVEL FAILS! ✈

A ‘Travel Fail’ could be some sort of misfortune that’s happened to you, someone else or something inanimate – or something you’ve seen or read on your travels!

The scope for ‘Travel Fails’ is pretty big! Submissions could be along the lines of:

Safety Fails

Bridge/Safety fail

Crazy Signage Fails

Fart humour fail

Booze Related Fails

Full moon party fails

Hilarious English Fails

Menu Fail

Travel Photo Roulette – Contest Overview

The Travel Photo Roulette rotates through travel and/or photography blogs. The winner of the previous round of Travel Photo Roulette hosts the subsequent round on their own blog. The new host then chooses the next theme, a generic keyword or phrase, and players submit their interpretations of the theme over the course of the week of the contest.

At the end of the week, the hosting blogger chooses their favorite photo from the submissions and displays it as the week’s winning entry. They then include direction to the new host for the next round. Readers can attempt to lobby the author toward a certain photo via comments or the #PhotoRoulette hashtag on Twitter – the author can accept or ignore any lobby as they see fit. The game is repeated with the winner hosting the following week’s game and choosing a phrase for new photo submissions.

Entry Guidelines

One submission per blog (so sites that have 2+ authors only get one entry).
Post processing is permitted, but photo altering (ie. Photoshopping) is not.
Abstract submissions are welcomed as long as it fits within the interpretation of the chosen phrase. (Remember, the hosting blogger chooses the winner, so if they cannot understand the submission, you might not win!)
Please try and keep your images medium-sized and web-optimized (600-800px).
If you win, keep the following in mind when choosing a new theme:

Keep phrases general so that all bloggers can participate. Specific items like “Eiffel Tower” should be avoided but rather made open-ended like “monuments.” For variety, it is okay to say focused things such as “monuments at night” which most of us have pictures of. Phrases can be generic ‘signs,’ or abstract ‘religion.’
Abstract thoughts are appreciated, but keep it within the realm that all readers will understand. No “Kafka-esque”, or “Overlooking Creation”. Use something that is able to be interpreted by all.
After 1 year, phrases can be reused, however new photos must be submitted.

No obscene pictures or phrases allowed. Suggestive phrases and photography can be accepted, but please keep it within reason.
Keep the ideas and photos fresh!
Pictures from your entire portfolio are fair to submit. You do not have to take the photo within the week of the contest period to submit it.
Most importantly – All photographs must be your own!
One last rule, since this is a competition for travel and photography bloggers, you must have a travel/photography blog to enter. Sorry!

How to Submit Your Photos

To enter in the Photo Roulette competition just leave a comment below with a link to the image (whether Flickr, Picasa or your own site) so it can be uploaded to this post. Don’t forget to provide a brief description or caption for the photo so we can all get some background on what’s happening.

Check back here throughout the week to see all the entries as they come in and please feel free to comment on them! The contest runs for 7 days from today, with the submission dates being October 6th to Oct 13th. (No more entries will be accepted after 3pm GMT.)

The winner will be announced a few days after the deadline, and they will host Travel Photo Roulette #68!

Easy right?!

Spread the Word!

Tweet using the hashtag #PhotoRoulette and share this page with your friends on Facebook, StumbleUpon, Google +, or your favourite Social Media channel. The more the merrier!

Comments on photo entries are strongly encouraged! We need all the help we can get when it comes time to making the winning decision.

Please remember: –

Submit your entries by October 13th, 2013!

We can’t wait to see your hilarious Travel Fail photos and hear the stories behind them! 🙂

Past Photo Roulette Winners and Hosts

The following is a list of the previously played rounds and the hosting blogger for each round. As the game has been running for a few years now, a few of the winners are no longer blogging and the posts have since been removed from the list below. Click the host’s link to go directly to that entry to see some stunning photographs from the chosen term or phrase!

1. Nov 4–10, 2010 – Living the Dream – “Animals” 2. Nov 17–24, 2010 – Skinny Backpacker – “Road Signs” 3. Nov 29–Dec 6, 2010 – Dream a Little Dream– “Street Art” 4. Dec 8–15, 2010 – Flashpacker HQ – “Festival” 5. Dec 17–24, 2010 – Over Yonderlust – “Landmarks” 6. Dec 26–Jan 2, 2011 – Don’t Ever Look Back – “Beaches” 7. Jan 5–12, 2011 – ThePlanetD – “Portraits” 8. Jan 15–22, 2011 – Travel with a Mate – “Motion” 9. Jan 26–Feb 3, 2011 – Johnny Vagabond – “Water” 10. Feb 8–15, 2011 – Ken Kaminesky – “Urban” 11. Feb 21–27, 2011 – Travels of Adam– “Friday Night” 12. Mar 7–13, 2011 – Itchy Feet Chronicles – “The Journey” 13. Mar 19– 25, 2011 – Brendan’s Adventures – “Changing Seasons” 14. Apr 4–10, 2011 – Shutterfeet – “Storytelling” 15. Apr 13–21, 2011 – 10 Times One – “Piousness” 16. Apr 26–May 4, 2011 – Beached Eskimo – “Learning” 17. May 21–27, 2011 – Travel Junkies – “Architecture” 18. Jun 1–7, 2011 – Destination World – “Transportation” 19. Jun 8–15, 2011 – Living the Dream – “Paradise” 20. Jun 21-28, 2011 – Vagabond Quest – “Clothes” 21. Jul 4-11, 2011 – The Unframed World – “Symmetry” 22. Jul 16-25, 2011 – Beached Eskimo – “Home” 23. Jul 31 – Aug 7, 2011 – BackPackerBanter – “Inspiration” 24. Aug 14 – 21, 2011 – WanderingTrader – “Darkness” 25. Aug 28 – Sep 4, 2011 – Finding the Universe – “Tranquillity” 26. Sep 12 – 19, 2011 – Fearful Adventurer – “Food” 27. Sep 23 – 30, 2011 – Adventures of a GoodMan – “City” 28. Oct 06 – 13, 2011 – Globe-Trekking.com – “Reflections” 29. Oct 17 – 24, 2011 – Scene With A Hart – “Framing” 30. Nov 9 – 16, 2011 – Vagabond Quest – “Silhouettes” 31. Nov 26 – Dec 3, 2011 – Hecktic Travels – “Music” 32. Dec 11 – Dec 18, 2011 – Globetrotter Girls – “Love” 33. Dec 25 – Jan 1, 2012– Man on the lam – “Humor” 34. Jan 8 – Jan 15, 2012 – My Walkabout – “Winter” 35. Jan 15 – Jan 22, 2012 – The Art of Slow Travel – “Blue” 36. Feb 6 – Feb 13, 2012 – Ten times One – “Depth of the Field” 38. March 7 – March 14, 2012 – Nomadbiba – “Sunshine” 39. March 24 – 31, 2012 – Travel With Kat – “Local Character” 40. April 10 – 16, 2012 – The Travel Bunny – “Street Scene” 41. April 23 – April 30, 2012 – Adventure Crow – “Spirit of the Country” 42. May 7 – 14, 2012 – Food Travel Bliss – “Evening” 43. May 17 – May 24, 2012 – Matt Gibson – “Adventure” 44. May 30th – June 6, 2012 – Flashpacker HQ – “Once In A Lifetime” 45. July 23rd – July 30, 2012 – Skinny Backpacker – “Surreal” 46. August 10 – August 17, 2012 – 2away – “Smile” 47. Aug 27 – Sept 2, 2012 – Bridges and Balloons – “Excellent Splendour of the Universe” 48. Sept 8 – Sept 15, 2012 – The GypsyNester – “What the ?!” 49. Oct 22 – Oct 29, 2012 – Runaway Juno – “Sweet” 50. Nov 12 – Nov 19, 2012 – GQ Trippin – “Play” 51. Nov 25 – Dec 2, 2012 – Life’s Little Victories – “Friendship” 52. Dec 15-22, 2012 – Breakaway Backpacker – “Face” 53. Jan 14-21, 2013 – Fly, Icarus, Fly – “Serendipity” 54. Feb 1-8, 2013 – Travel Transmissions – “Lost in Thought” 55. Feb 15-22, 2013 – Wanderlusters – “The Natural World” 56. Mar 17-24, 2013 – Travel Junkies – “Patterns” 57. April 25-May 3rd, 2013 – Living the Dream – “Your First Time” 58. May12-19th, 2013 – Getting Stamped – “As The Sun Goes Down” 59. June 6-13th, 2013 – The GypsyNester – “Cheesy Tourist Diversions” 60. June 27-July 4, 2013 – Boomeresque – “Revolution” 61. July 18-July 25,2013 – Breakaway Backpacker – “Colorful” 62. August 14-August 21, 2013 – Around This World – “Mountains” 63. August 25th – September 1st 2013: Passports and Pamplemousse – “Hands at Work” 64. September 4th – 11th, 2013: TurtlesTravel – “Dance” 65.September 12th-19th, 2013: Keep calm and travel – “The sea”, 66 Sept 26th – Oct 3rd Travel Photo Discovery – “The Market”

Am I Nearly There Yet? “Travel Fails” 67. October 6th -13th, 2013

So then, get submitting your Travel Fail images!

This Weeks Entries

Photo captions have been provided by the contestants, and provide a bit of background on the setting and some insight on the capture!

1. The GypsyNester

We were worried about the altitude in Peru and were willing to try ANYTHING to help with the side effects – but this was NOT a ringing endorsement:

Inside the Cusco airport we spotted a cure for the light-headed feeling and sleepiness that the low oxygen at high altitude can bring on, a booth with something called OxiShot. But wait, the clerk is out cold, must be the thin air.

2. Jeremy at Living The Dream RTW

You’re at one of the most famous landmarks in the entire world, and all you bring is a tablet with a crappy camera on it. A travel fail and one of my biggest annoyances of all. Although, I’ve now taken to like this photo a lot because of the photo-in-a-photo display.

3. Suzanne Fluhr @ Boomeresque

I took this photo on the Big Island of Hawaii. I think there is a serious messaging problem with this sign. It seems to suggest that if there’s a tsunami warning, you should run downhill towards the ocean. Huh?

4. Jacomijn @ Jacomijn’s Travel Blog

In Laos I booked a VIP bus from Phonsavan to Paksan. The fact was that I booked this old bus, there was no other way because at some point in the journey the road ended and we went through the river!!!

5. Dan and Alissa @ This World Rocks

While traveling by banka boat in the Philippines, the 1980′s motor on our boat broke and the propeller fell into the ocean. We drifted out to sea for over four hours until a fishing boat finally saw our make-shift help sign (an orange lifejacket on top of a long stick waving back and forth). No radio or lifeboat on board… FAIL.
The photo shows our sad, broken down banka boat getting towed back to shore after hours of screaming and yelling for help.
The real fail came after we finally arrived at our destination 18 hours later (was supposed to be a 8 hour trip). We were asked by the driver for twice the agreed fare to cover the extra cost of gas. After a short debate, I placed the original agreed-on amount by his feet and got out of there.

6. Cindy @ the exploration vacation

When the driver of our support trunk on safari in Botswana cracked the truck’s frame, the decision was to take a stick they cut from a dead bush and a strap to tie it to the broken frame — like you’d splint a broken leg to keep it stable while you walked to the nearest town! Amazingly, it did get them there – luckily it wasn’t far.

7. Anwar @ Beyond My Front Door

It was taken in Miyajima in Japan. While I didn’t see anyone actually have this issue, I imagine they made the signs due to past travel fails. It is hilarious in my opinion. I have a post about the travel fails here.

We’ve picked a winner!

This weeks winner is entry no.1 from The GypsyNester!