Travel Tips Archives - Travel Write Draw by Meagan Morrison

First Timer’s Guide to India

I ventured to India for the very first time this past December. Not only did it completely exceed any and…

Passport, Travel Partnerships, Travel Tips

Condé Nast Traveler Singapore Etiquette Guide

In August 2017 I made my first trip to Singapore. It was the last stop on a whirlwind tour through…

Continuing my illustrated diary from the UAE tonig

Continuing my illustrated diary from the UAE tonight 🇦🇪👏🏼 as we armchair travel together, but before I do I, wanted to make something clear. I hope that what I’m sharing is in no way misconstrued as being insensitive or in denial about what is currently happening in the world right now 😔🙏🏼. The truth is, the minute I hear anything regarding New York, which I often do having the NYTimes app on my phone, I’m susceptible to bursting into tears. I figure we have a million and one upsetting and downright depressing news clips fed to us everyday, and another million posts telling us how to make the most of this time at home, that I’d rather continue to bring light and color to your feeds. I only ever want to be a source of joy for you guys but admittedly I’ve been struggling to find the right place in all of this. I’d really like to hear your thoughts on this also and in the meantime let’s take a journey to the Dubai Spice Souk and Majlis at the @RitzCarlton. One of my absolute favorite places to visit every time I return to Dubai is the souks. It makes me feel like I’m traveling back in time and provides an incredible contrast from the modernity of the city emerging out of the desert. The whole experience was made even more special this time with @ebradley_co and @RitzCarltonDubai’s Executive Chef. When we headed back to the hotel, we got to learn a bit of Arabic over coffee and dates, and I was as happy as a clam at high tide 😉. I hope you’ll continue on this journey with me as we head to my illustrated diary of Abu Dhabi next and feel free to sound off on the above. With love always xx MM #RCMemories

I started TravelWriteDraw after my first trip to D

My loves, if you’re looking for a light & uplift

My loves, if you’re looking for a light & uplifting read, my new interview with beauty app @SlappLDN 🇬🇧 is now LIVE on their site. I’m talking all about the origins of TravelWriteDraw, advice for young creatives, and the one beauty product I can’t live without. I did this interview before the world turned upside down 🙃 but it lifted my spirits to answer these q’s and reconnect with the joys of life. I hope it does for you too. You can read it here: slapp://app.slapp.tech/content/269 ❤️ I love you and hope you enjoy xx MM

It’s a Llama Party 🥳🦙🎉!! Never in a mil

It’s a Llama Party 🥳🦙🎉!! Never in a million years did I think I’d be out-accessorized by a pack of llamas in Chile 😂. Alas, like most things these days, anything is possible. Good night, my loves. I hope you are using this time to DREAM 💕!! I love you and I’m thinking of you xx MM

Flamingo studies from today🦩🦩🦩🎨✨!! T

Flamingo studies from today🦩🦩🦩🎨✨!! The last thing I expected to see during my trip to Chile was flamingos and yet there they were dancing the cha cha in glorious lagoons throughout the Atacama desert. No really...they do coordinated group dances to attract a mate. My only regret was not filming their sweet moves 😂👏🏼. This is just the beginning of my painting journey/exploration to create my new series so stay tuned as I rollout more in the coming days xx MM

Though I'm not too certain when I'll be reuniting

Though I'm not too certain when I'll be reuniting with my NYC studio again, I'm so grateful to have some backup art supplies at home here in Canada!! Can't help but see an opportunity to get creative while we isolate and dressed up even if only for ourselves. Just before I left for my trip (a very different time from today), @Anthropologie allowed me to style my very own outfit from their New Arrivals that made me feel the most connected to the #ArtofWomanhood theme this March. You ALL know just how much I love a maxi dress, but especially in statement red. For me this look embodies exactly what it feels like to be a woman: feminine and in charge, approaching a blank canvas to create something that never existed before my brush met the paper. Necessity really is the mother of invention, so how can we use this time to grow, evolve, and expand? Thank you so much for continuing to celebrate in the #ArtofAnthropologie with me this month, in support of their year long partnership with @YoungArts, empowering young artists to pursue a life of art. I can't wait to put brush to paper with you all xx MM #AnthroPartner

Last photo post from my Chile trip (I promise 🙏

Last photo post from my Chile trip (I promise 🙏🏼) before I start rolling out my illustrations from this journey. I figured a little llama traffic jam 🦙🌈⛰ was a great way to end the day!! As we drove along the highway from rainbow valley to the airport, it became very clear that it was a llama’s world and we were just living in it 😂🙏🏼. I hope this post sparks some joy in your feed and that you are all staying inspired and positive. Lots of love and goodnight from Canada xx MM

Chile has some of the most beautiful murals/graffi

Chile has some of the most beautiful murals/graffiti/street art I’ve seen and I’m marinating on how to integrate it into a new illustration series inspired by this incredible country 👏🏼. Even if we can’t physically travel right now, I still feel like we can fly through art. Generally speaking, I’m focusing on what I CAN do in this moment vs what I CAN’T. Recognizing a lot of blind spots in my business model is actually an opportunity to evolve and get better. I shared yesterday on my InstaStory that I’m starting everyday of this self-imposed quarantine with thinking of 3 things I’m grateful for. Today it was: 1. Hearing my dad early in the morning making fresh coffee in the kitchen ☕️ 2. Being greeted by my family when I walked outside my bedroom door 🥰 3. The sun pouring through our windows 🌞. Let’s keep our spirits and vibrations high!! I love you and I’m here for you xx MM

Mother Nature is My Favorite Artist Pt 2 🌈⛰:

Mother Nature is My Favorite Artist Pt 2 🌈⛰: I’ve landed back home in Canada safe & sound to be with my family as we practice social distancing over this next little while. But I hope you don’t mind if I share a few more snaps from my magical trip to Chile in the meantime as I work on the new art inspired by this trip while I’m home. It took 3 days in the Atacama desert to finally get to visit this site, the Rainbow Valley, due to the unprecedented rains (hello climate change 👋🏼) and boy was it worth the wait!! We left San Pedro before sunrise on Thurs am and when we arrived we got to witness both the sun and moon greeting each other as the day began. We headed straight to the airport from there but not without a llama party 🦙👯‍♀️ traffic jam along the highway 😂. Fun fact: this is the mountain view I painted in my Anthropologie piece for the #ArtofWomanhood and what a remarkable experience to see it in real life 🥰. Hoping this surreal colour burst lights up your feed tonight. With love always xx MM

Postcard from Valparaíso, Chile 🤩🌈💘!! Su

Postcard from Valparaíso, Chile 🤩🌈💘!! Such a gritty, technicolor, coastal city and one of my new favorite gems in the world. In truth it feels incredibly surreal to be posting about travel at a time like this. I don’t want to add to the already astronomical levels of anxiety and fear out in the world right now or come across as ignorant or insensitive in light of how much our world has been turned upside down by this virus. My trip to Peru has been postponed and I will be attempting to return home this evening, which is absolutely for the best (wish me luck). I hope these colourful snaps brighten your day and I look forward to channeling all this inspiration into my art since I’ll be spending a lot of time indoors for the foreseeable future 😉. I love you all. Stay safe and be well xx MM

Mother Nature is My Favorite Artist Pt 1 🌼: a c

Mother Nature is My Favorite Artist Pt 1 🌼: a collection of some of the most surreal, otherworldly beauty I’ve witnessed here in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile ⛰✨. I knew I would be moved but not quite like this 😭🙏🏼. At a time when life feels so uncertain, I couldn’t feel anymore calm and supported when looking up at these mountains. It is all so very humbling and I’m so grateful to not only witness it but be able to share it with all of you 🤗🥰. Which has been your favourite view so far? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6?! xx MM

As it turns out, there really is life on Mars...an

As it turns out, there really is life on Mars...and volcanoes too 🌋😜!! Today we spent 12hrs discovering and admiring the otherworldly natural beauty of the Atacama desert and high plain lagoons here in Chile!! To say my mind is blown is a complete understatement. I saw flamingos 🦩in salt flat waters that mirrored the sky; a complete and utter dream. Admittedly I’ve been trying to stay present and focused on the moment here but I truly hope wherever you are in the world right now, that you are safe. I want to bring a glimmer of relief and light in having you join me on this journey. Sending so much love out to you all and more adventures to follow xx MM

Greetings from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, my lov

Greetings from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, my loves!! I'm SO thrilled to finally share that I'm partnering with @Anthropologie this month on the theme of "Art of Womanhood" as part of their ongoing celebration of the #ArtofAnthropologie and their year long partnership with @YoungArts (a non-profit devoted to supporting the next generation of talented artists). When I was first approached about this project, I immediately jumped at the opportunity. Not only has Anthropologie been at the top of my dream client list since I was an illustration student at FIT, but I was also really impacted by the theme in question: what the "Art of Womanhood" really means to me. I even went so far as to ask in my InstaStories a little while ago, what womanhood meant to you, and I received hundreds of compelling submissions. What I distilled for myself is that being a woman means being a CREATOR. It means leading a purpose and passion driven life with intention. It also means being fearless, free and empowered; in the driver's seat of my own destiny. Since TravelWriteDraw was born out of all of the above, I decided to convey the creator creating from her travels in this illustration, featuring Chile's Rainbow Valley. And now I'd love to ask you all who didn't get the chance to answer, what does the "Art of Womanhood" mean to you? xx MM #AnthroPartner

Hola from Santiago, Chile, my loves 🇨🇱!! Tou

Hola from Santiago, Chile, my loves 🇨🇱!! Touched down safe and sound just in time to celebrate International Women’s Day 🥳!! I arrived 2hrs shy of the whopping 1 million strong female protest today in Santiago, but boy do I feel the residual impact and inspiration. So very moved 🙏🏼 and convinced I’m exactly where I’m meant to be in this moment. Leaning into my fears of traveling through the unknown, and proving once again that we can do anything we set our minds to. I would be remiss not to mention just how many women have inspired my journey to be brave. Not only am I grateful to be raised in a family of strong women, but I also have the most incredible father who praised my courage every step of the way. I hope that I always stand as an example for young girls across the globe that anything they dream of is possible. The sky is truly the limit as long as you believe. More to come from Chile, my loves xx MM

Good morning, my loves 🌞 Today is the day!! I’m so excited to be heading to Santiago, Chile 🇨🇱 with you all for the very first time!! Admittedly the timing is a bit precarious 🤔😂, but I’ve made the decision to continue my journey and will update you along the way should anything change. More than anything I’m just so excited to take you all with me to South America and be INSPIRED!! 2020 has been an aggressive year in 2 months lol and I think we could all use a little more color, joy and celebration of LIFE. So if you’ve been to Chile before, please leave your recommendations below!!! I cannot wait to share this journey with you 😘 xx MM

The last time I visited South America (Brazil & Ar

The last time I visited South America (Brazil & Argentina) I created a personal series of art which miraculously lead to a feature with Vogue Japan. I created this series during my evenings and weekends when I was still working as a full-time graphic designer. The trip was a holiday with my then bf, not a work trip by any means. Never in a MILLION years did I think while painting these works, that they would lead me to a feature in Vogue. All I cared about was honouring my trip through my art in the most honest, heartfelt way I could muster. I’m not saying this type of feature is going to happen again, as I return to South America to create from Chile & Peru in a week, but what I am saying is that ANYTHING is possible!! Create bc you love it, not bc of what you think you might gain from it. The universe has a funny way of taking care of the dreamers who work their butts off 😂🙊❤️!! And with that, I wish you a gorgeous Sunday. Lots of love xx MM