Wired Wanderlust: Iowans in Wide Open Spaces

Some may argue that it's bad journalism to write an entire blog post about your friends. But what if their experiences are too cool not to? Assistant online editor Mary Beth LaRue thought she'd send a little link love to her fellow world-traveling University of Iowa alums, but only because she thinks you'll be glad she did.

Amanda Del Sur—Twenty-five-year-old Amanda May's yearlong stay in Buenos Aires is captured in an array of bright colors and stark arrangements on her photo blog. Amanda shot with a Canon EOS 20D and traveled to Rosario, Mar del Plata, and Colonia, Uruguay. She says, "I tried to show the beauty within the ugliness of Latin America. I think of the blog as an abstract documentary." Now working as a waitress in Iowa City, camera aficionado Amanda is working on launching her photography career.

No Boundaries—After graduating, Omaha-native Andy Stoll and his friend Erick daydreamed about what paths they'd take post-college. The options they considered included teaching English in Japan, working as diving guides on the Great Barrier Reef, walking along the Great Wall of China, volunteering to help AIDS victims in Africa, backpacking across Europe, exploring the rain forests of South America, and, of course, a good old nine-to-five job in America. With that many options, Andy knew he had to get to work. While working a university job, Andy researched, saved money, and plotted a trip around the world. He's now in Hong Kong with plans to travel through east and southeast Asia, New Zealand, India, and Africa over the next two years. His plan is to set up (and document online) five or six "experiences"—whether working, teaching, or volunteering—in order to encounter each place beyond the limits of the usual snapshot-taking vacation.

Exploring the Unknown—Recent Iowa graduate Brian Triplett was sitting in his 1994 Nissan Altima in the parking lot of Panera Bread in Davenport, Iowa, trying to decide where to head first on his one-year around-the-world trip when he got a phone call from two friends living in New York City. One minute later Brian was headed down I-80 East to celebrate New Year's Eve in the Big Apple. He has since sold the Altima, driven through 20 states, taken in the Sundance Film Festival, and is now hanging out in Sydney before heading to his next stop. He won't reveal where he's headed until the plane has landed, so you have to read to find out.