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MAPWANDERER.COM

HELLO! HOLA! BONJOUR! 

Where did the idea of the Map Wanderer come from?

Well, let's start off with my obsession over maps. I love, love, love them! I think they're beautiful and interesting and the way different artists render maps is fascinating. Everywhere I travel to, I make sure to get maps as part of my souvenirs. I love following directions and figuring out maps to get around, especially equipped with a compass. Anyway, I always imagined myself "wandering" in the world, and what better way to incorporate that and my love of maps. So there, the Map Wanderer was born. :)

Why do I want you to come here to MapWanderer.com?
This space is where my love of maps and travel come together. I want to be able to share my passion for photography and traveling to hopefully inspire you with the beauty out there in the world (especially to get you to go out there and travel!). In addition, with my background in International Relations, I want to be able to create a space to talk about my personal projects and cool organizations that I have had the privilege to be a part of in my life goals of making a positive difference in the world. 

VICTORIA N. | Travel Enthusiast & Photographer

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Who am I?
I am a Vietnamese American, born in Redwood City, California, USA and raised in Union City, California. My parents are from Vietnam, immigrating to the US in the late 70's. I attended undergrad at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and so I lived in Los Angeles for a number of years. After a few years in the "real world", I went back and got my Master's degree at the University of Sussex in the UK and absolutely LOVED that time abroad. I have a passion for travel, photography, design, the political economy and development, creativity, and all around, pretty things! What can I say, I am constantly on the lookout for eye candy and an interesting story!

Why did I decide to create this website?
I've been blogging for ages now, but decided that I finally wanted to develop something that was a culmination of everything about me - a space for me to incorporate my loves in life.

Where am I and what am I doing?
I'm currently living in the San Francisco Bay Area, and enjoying getting to explore the area as a "tourist". I grew up in the area, but I've been away for so long that I realized I really don't know much about it!

What is my website about?
I absolutely LOVE traveling and travel planning. Ask anyone I know! Through the years, I've been asked to give advice about cities I've been to and for ages now, I've been wanting to put it somewhere that I can share the knowledge. I decided that now would be the time to do it. Life isn't waiting for me...if I want something I have to make it happen.

Where does my design background come from?
I've never been formally trained in graphic design, but my dad always had a printing shop as I was growing up and every weekend when I would go there, I'd invade his computers to use his awesome Adobe programs. True story: for a number of years, I was writing my essays in high school on Adobe Pagemaker. I've since realized that Microsoft Word was better suited for that, but hey, what can I say, I've always loved Adobe programs. Fast forward to high school and college - I was an editor for the school yearbooks and loved it! I'm all about capturing memories - whether through photography or design!

Other projects:
  • Eat Snap Love: Food photography blog with my friend YJ
  • Victoria's Photo Diary: My photo of the day blog (No longer updated. Will be moved to this site)

What can I do to help you?
TRAVEL TIPS
I'm more than happy to answer questions about any of the places I've traveled to. If you send me a message, you'll get a very enthusiastic reply. :)

TRAVEL CONSULTING
One of my favorites parts of traveling is the planning process! Yes, I actually like searching for flights, price comparisons, coming up with an itinerary and booking hotels. I want to use my travel experience to help you to come up with the perfect trip. I'm not a professional travel agent, but I have planned all my own trips and can help you work within your budget and your time limitations. Contact me to give me an idea of your dates and your budget. I can help you come up with trip ideas based on the information you give me.

PHOTOGRAPHY
I've done plenty of event photography throughout the years and many of my friends know me as the "historian" of the group. I gladly take on this title! Let me know if you have a gig you want photographed. I won't say I'm a professional, but I will definitely do the best I can!

PHOTO PRINTS
Do you see any photos that you want on your wall? Let me know and we can arrange for it to be printed for you!

DESIGN
I've had design experience throughout the years - ranging from yearbook design to logos to marketing brochures and postcards. 

Contact me for quick travel questions, travel consulting, photo print orders, photography gigs, design projects, or just to say hello!
Email: mapwanderer[at]gmail.com


Things I Love...

+Airplanes
+Brighton
+California
+Design
+Europe

+Food
+Globes
+Languages

+Maps
+Photography

+Scrapbooks
+Trains

+Train Stations
+UCLA

Favorite form of transportation...

Trains!

A few fun facts...

(1) I'm on a mission to visit all 50 states in the United States. I have about 20 more to go!
(2) I collect shot glasses from all my travels. Yup, I have hundreds!
(3) I'm on my 8th/9th digital camera right now. Currently still using an SLR (Canon 7D) and a P&S (Canon S95).


Camera Gear

I'm a Canon girl!
+Canon 7D (DSLR)
+Sigma 30mm f/1.4
+Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
+Canon 50mm f/1.8
+Canon 480x flash
+Canon S95 (P&S)

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