Buzz
“A skilled traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu.
First and foremost, let’s acknowledge that travel – with all its wonders and beauty – always carries within it traps and potentially daunting moments you may never have imagined or encountered. Even meticulously planned journeys leave room for anticipatory anxiety, especially for those unfamiliar with the complexities of customs procedures or navigating new cultures.
However, adapting to change and leveraging the advantages of new cultures is essential to truly becoming a seasoned traveler. It's about embracing movement in any form, rather than remaining stagnant with your conservative inclinations at home. It entails immersing yourself in a different world, experiencing differences with varied perspectives, ultimately transforming into a better, more interesting individual.
This is the time for introspection and exploration, for actions that foster personal growth and holistic development. It's an opportunity to embrace new ideas and objective perspectives. Moreover, if you're a savvy traveler, you'll never return home unchanged.
Some say that when traveling abroad, they engage fellow travelers in discussions about their ideals and ways of life, about how they embrace change and embark on new adventures. This exchange allows them to understand diverse ideas and opinions, fueling their thirst for knowledge. Until they quench their curiosity, the desire to explore persists, acting as a tantalizing dish that stimulates their minds. Because that's what happens when you're a skilled traveler. A skilled traveler exhibits an open mind and abundant energy to absorb the wonders and concepts of a new land. It's incredibly rewarding to boldly venture into uncharted territories, eager to understand and evaluate them more clearly than your own homeland.
Embrace openness and share remarkable stories and experiences with diverse individuals. Seize every moment and opportunity that comes your way. Here are some ideas for a future journey of self-discovery.
Meet and make new friends at local bars.
Try visiting a few bars alone, engage in conversations with locals, and meet people from different countries around the world. You might even indulge in a drink or two and discover your ability to converse with strangers in various languages. Who knows, you might end up leading the rest of your journey with your new friends. Or perhaps, you'll establish a new 'club' in the country you're traveling to.
Ask a local for a cigarette.
Sharing a cigarette is one of the most social activities you can engage in with a stranger. Even if you don't smoke, you can 'pretend' to indulge in this bad habit for the sake of 'experience.' Besides, cigarettes aren't something to worry about when you're abroad.
Attend an unadvertised party.
Discover these intriguing parties anywhere you travel. These 'secret' events, not advertised loudly, unveil a different side of the city you're visiting, known only to the locals. Attend these events not as a tourist but blend in as a native, and you'll truly feel the authentic culture of the place.
Order the most 'unfamiliar' dishes on the menu.
Stop ordering your usual favorites with easy-to-pronounce names. Instead, try ordering local dishes or tricky desserts that challenge your pronunciation, even if it leaves you puzzled. You can also look around to see what others are eating and request the same for yourself. It'll be an exciting and surprising experience.
Purchase a bus pass.
Never confine yourself to the places you're staying at. If it's a beautiful day, take a bus to a nearby beach or scenic spot and explore. Venture into surrounding areas and never say no to an excursion.
Accept everyone's suggestions.
If a new friend invites you to a weekend party or suggests changing plans for a spontaneous trip, embrace it with enthusiasm. Spontaneous decisions often lead to the best experiences and the most surprises.
Attempt to speak another language, even if you fail.
You may feel embarrassed and hesitant if your language skills aren't perfect, unable to communicate accurately or express your thoughts to others. However, this is a crucial time for language development and enhancement. Strive to learn as much as possible, embrace being a fool and put in effort to learn. People will appreciate your efforts. Instead of expecting them to understand your language, make an effort to understand theirs.
Have a brief 'sunstroke'.
When you encounter someone who makes your heart flutter, allow yourself to feel naturally if you're inclined towards a love affair abroad. Even if it's just a 'one-night stand', let your passion ignite in a foreign city, exploring what you want to experience as a true local.
Go to the store and treat yourself to a new outfit.
There's no better way to immerse yourself in the local culture than by dressing like them. Wearing their attire makes you feel like a local when you return home. If you dress like them as they do every day, they'll find it hard to believe you're a foreigner, and who knows, they might offer you unexpected benefits thinking you're a native.
Chat with a street performer.
Street performers are unique individuals working on the streets. They represent the artists and the impoverished city dwellers. Engaging in conversation and learning their stories will help you discover many new things. You never know, they might be the most interesting people you meet.
Indulge in street food.
Street food is a culinary cultural expression and a common fare of the locals. You'll learn a lot about customs, culture, and unique characteristics of each locality when enjoying these dishes. A tip for you is to choose light-origin dishes or try the foods they sell on the way to work and in front of schools.
Take public transportation even if it's 'bad'.
Even though France doesn't boast the best subway system, you should 'endure' alongside everyone else like a true Parisian. Observe who's on the metro, what's on their minds, where their common stops are... Travel like a voyager, not a tourist.
“The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see.” – G.K. Chesterton
Wander as if there's no destination... or no need for a map.
There's nothing more wonderful than getting lost in a foreign land. You're on an adventure, exploring random streets or everything they hold, stumbling upon the best empanada joint you've ever tasted, witnessing a breathtaking church, or enjoying a cappuccino overlooking the sea, for example... What could be better? Many surprises await you on journeys like these.
Try waking up early.
You only feel truly 'rich' in time when you wake up early. Sacrifice a morning snooze, stroll along nameless streets to chance upon cafes. Sip coffee with locals, read the paper, watch people pass by in the morning light before the mist dissipates. Coffee will prepare you for your next journey.
Solo traveling... why not?
If you're someone who cherishes freedom and isn't hindered, you should go solo. While someone else enjoys with a friend or partner, the only way for you to encounter new things is to leave others behind. Continue to wander as a lone warrior, and your 'sacrifice' will surely bring many new experiences.
Put aside the various types of cameras.
A true tourist won't waste their time with snapshots. You won't live in the moment if you're looking for it behind the lens. Enjoy the beauty in the moment, set the camera aside, and let your mind preserve the memories, which you'll revisit later.
By San San (Source: Elitedaily.com)
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Reference: Travel Guide from Mytour
MytourJanuary 26, 2016
