Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Afar Entry Title: The Otherworldly, Overwhelming, Oftentimes Unbelievable Natural Wonders of Oman Entry Credit: Sarah Thankam Mathews Judge Comment: This homage to the writer’s home country transcends a memoir into a well-woven exploration tale of the world’s least-known countries. The writing shifts easily from narration to exposition, like a cake iced with just enough frosting to be sweet but not saccharine. Strong phrasing, good movement and most of all, an invitation to visit other-worldly Oman.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Auto Club of Southern California Entry Title: Encore, Paris! The once-dimmed City of Light finds its way back, just in time for the Summer Olympics Entry Credit: Jim Benning, Alison Gee, Leslie Yap Judge Comment: With the Summer Olympics, those who have visited will return their hearts and minds to Paris. Alison Gee takes readers along on her long-awaited return to reconnect with the soul of the French capital. Lovingly written and intensely descriptive, this piece offers a peek into places not always on the familiar itinerary and demonstrates why the streets, cafes and shops of Paris really are the touchstones in our memories of past travels.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Pier Nirandara Entry Title: To the Thai Woman On the Waterfront Entry Credit: Pier Nirandara Judge Comment: This narrative weaves a common experience — the relationship between Thai masseuse and client — and spins a story about country and class that is the lived experience of expatriate workers who toil in the shadows of tourist destinations. The connection sparks a coy but revealing conversation that draws comparisons between one country and another, raising the specter of South African apartheid and the limited opportunities for many of the world’s women. By using the everyday experience of travelers, Pier Nirandara makes readers think again about global inequities, personal safety and the role of fate.
Place Name: Honorable Mention Contestant Name: National Geographic Traveler Entry Title: Chile’s glaciers are dying. You can actually hear it. Entry Credit: Robert Draper Judge Comment: The glaciers of Chile offer only a hint of human habitation. But humans are there, watching, monitoring and listening as the country’s prized glaciers die. A combination of poetry and facts offers the reader a chance to pull on climbing boots as well as sit back and admire the rugged beauty of the icy south. Well told, descriptive and respectful, this piece arms you with the scientific knowledge to understand the effects of climate change.
