Buzz
Gone are the days when smartphones and tablets were virtually non-existent during our travels around the world. Today, technology with its remarkable advancements has revolutionized the way we travel, bringing undeniable positive impacts.
Below are some nostalgic aspects of our past travels, before the era of digital took over human lives.
1. In the past, when traveling abroad, it was essential to have an international calling card. How could you stay in touch with friends and family when traveling far away, even halfway around the globe? Only through an international calling card! But now, you don't even need to use your phone to contact your loved ones; you can simply Skype over WiFi or 3G!
2. In the past, you didn't have to pay baggage fees, which was convenient because you could pack all your favorite books to read throughout your vacation.
However, this is no longer the case today. And you can only lighten your luggage by carrying ebooks on your e-reader (kindle, tablet...).
3. Just like in the old days, you could comfortably carry all those CDs, handheld Discmans, or old-school Game Boy cartridges, along with hefty travel magazines... but nowadays, they're just a hassle because they take up too much space. Meanwhile, with just a tablet, you can do anything.
4. In the past, whenever you went anywhere, you had to rely on a paper map to find your way step by step, but now, it's all in map apps on your smartphone.
5. In the past, you had to directly call airlines to check the status of flights. No internet updates, no emails, and certainly no texts. Just phone calls!
6. In the past, you had to read guidebooks or talk to locals to find out the best places to eat, drink, or explore. But nowadays, it's all on the Internet, and with just a click, you've gathered quite a few different experiences.
7. Traveler's cheques or travel vouchers, a payment tool that has been in use since 1874, when the Thomas Cook Holidays Company (which had been established for 33 years at the time) sold its customers vouchers allowing them to pay for hotel expenses or small indulgences at designated outlets abroad — something that doesn't even exist in today's era.
8. In the past, you could only take photos with old film cameras, or even had to rely on others to take them for you, but today, you can snap thousands of different photos with just your smartphone.
9. You had to develop the film rolls before you could see the captured photos.
10. In the past, you had no idea exactly how your destination would be like or what the menu at your hotel would be... And you would be extremely surprised if there was any delicious dish or interesting attraction there...
But nowadays, you have all the ability to research all the necessary information about the places you're about to set foot in.
11. In the past, you could only make friends with people you met while traveling, or write letters, but today you can make friends with anyone on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram...
12. However, one of the benefits that underdeveloped technology brought you was that you didn't have to worry about updating your personal status on all your social media platforms. Back then, traveling meant truly enjoying the beauty outside, something that is somewhat influenced by technology nowadays.
***
Source: Travel Handbook Mytour – From Huffingtonpost.com
MytourFebruary 24, 2014
