Unusual hobbies: Toy Voyagers

by Alexia

When it comes to unusual hobbies, collecting toy voyagers takes the biscuit... and sends it round the world. Remember the travelling gnome in 'Amelie'? Find out more...

Getting into toy voyagers is a justifiable way to bloody good excuse for getting out those cuddly soft toys again. Now, collecting toy voyagers can cause bewildered stares from strangers who think you are a few fries short of a happy meal. You shall get used to this, dear Mook. If all else fails, simply stare back, looking equally bewildered.

What are Toy Voyagers?

Have you seen the film Amelie? Do you recall the travelling gnome scenes? Well, 'toy voyagers' comes from the idea that an object/toy seems to get up and go on holiday of its own accord. Your toy voyager is a travelling toy looking for adventures. To infinity and beyond! (Almost).

What does the toy voyager hobby involve?

To create a toy voyager, delve under your bed and locatle an old long-lost toy that looks to be in need of a holiday. Choose a toy that's choking on the amount of dust under there. Give that little toy a break.

Once you have your chosen toy and have activated a travel log for it (instructions below), it's time to browse the toy voyager forums for suitable hosts from around the world offering to give your toy a holiday.

Toyvoyagers is about sending toys to different places and being kept updated with what they are doing through writing and photographs on their travel log.

Toy voyagers is a cheap hobby. The only cost involved is the postage - although there is an online shop for other things you may wish to purchase.

So, will I ever see my toy voyager again?

Assuming you picked reliable hosts, yes! Once you have said 'bon voyage' to your toy and packed them off in the post to their new temporary home, majority of hosts will look after your toy for around a month or so. Ffter this, you decide whether they are moving on to another host. If you miss your toy too much, ask for it to be sent home again for a while.

How do I activate my chosen toy?

Get yourself an activation code at www.toyvoyagers.com.

Toyvoyagers is free. Simply head to the forums and post on the 'create a toy voyager' thread to ask for your code. Et voila - it will be emailed to you via private messaging.

If you would like a more official-looking option, you can order a Toyvoyager tag from the shop which you can attach to your toy. This states an activation code on it too, so there's no need to request one through the forum IF you decide to buy one of these INSTEAD. You don't have to, though. You can simply go for the free option and post on their forum for your code.

The activation code gets your Toyvoyager an online travel log to write and display photos on regarding its travels. The toy voyager travel log is easy to set up. You need to fill in a few tiny but useful details like the Toyvoyager's name, height, weight.

Rather wonderfully, you are also encouraged to specify your toy's 'Life Missions'. A life mission can be anything you would like hosts to help your toy fulfill during their holidays, from 'going about a ship, boat or ferry' to 'seeing a kangaroo in Australia'.

Are there any rules in creating a Toy voyager?

There aren't too many rules. Let me have a little think...

1. All photographs uploaded must have the Toyvoyager featured in them.

2. You have to be over 16 to host a Toyvoyager account.

3. For your own sanity, don't host too many toys at once.

On the Toyvoyager forums you'll find an FAQ page and a friendly bunch of Toyvoyager owners who will help you out if need be.

Friendly Toy Voyager Tips

Photographs can look better if you can take them without showing your hands holding the toyvoyager. Keeping your hands out of the picture makes the toys come alive a little more. It takes a bit of experimenting to work out the best way to photograph them - or two seconds' worth of cropping.

Remember that your toy is going to be travelling by post. Lighter toys that aren't too big are probably best and won't cost the hosts too much money when posting them back/on.

Choose a toy that isn't going to be missed too much - just in case your toyvoyager does somehow get lost between travelling to different countries. It's just common sense really. Don't send your best childhood toy for this project unless you're willing you might one day receive a small telegram saying 'lost at sea'.

View profiles of potential hosts first to see how involved they are in the site. If you view any of their 'currently hosting' travel logs you may get a glimpse into the kinds of photographs the host will take of your toy if you are to let them visit.

Quite a few people send postcards, chocolates or sweets when sending toy voyagers from host to host. If you are having somebody host your toy why not pop a postcard in the envelope just to say thanks.

Toyvoyager & Forum Talk - The lingo

TV - Toyvoyager

PM - Private Message

Host - Somebody willing to look after your Toyvoyager

Wild TV - A Toyvoyager that has been set up and left in public for someone else to find and update (you can find more information about these on the website)

Travel log - Your Toyvoyager's online diary

Togs - Little images that appear next to usernames on the forum

I do hope this has given you a bit of an insight into Toyvoyagers now. Perhaps you are sufficiently intrigued to rummage through your old toys and give them a well deserved holiday. One day, you yourself will travel like Amelie's gnome and take pictures of yourself under Egyptian pyramids and straightening the tower of Pisa. Until then... let your Toyvoyager do it for you...

(My Toyvoyager Username: LittleBlogFrog)

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