Life lessons that travel taught me
- World is huge, beyond what you can ever imagine. It is simply not possible to go to a country and see it entirely in a week or two. It’s gonna take time!
- Most people are nice. The ones who are not have an unusual story. Judging should not be the first thing that should come to one’s mind when traveling.
3. Life is a long journey, make some new friends. Travel. Listen to your heart, often. Smell the roses. Love. Live. Laugh. La vie en rose.
4. Food is the best thing that happened to human race. Food varies by state, country, region and continent, though it is delectable everywhere. Spices of South-Asia, wines of Europe, simplicity of Africa and supersize meals of America, they all are flavorful and one should just live to eat!
5. Don’t judge people by their money. Best people are the ones who have little money. I have come across people who live below the poverty line, the teenagers who work two jobs to support themselves and the ones who are celebrities. I have only been really heartily happy in the company of people who value friendship, love, compassion way over money and these kind of people are not extinct. They are plenty and they are convivial.
6. Travel teaches the value of money: Money management is the key to extensive travel. The usual $200 a night weekends that happened in New York and San Fransisco where I would spend on fancy cocktails and tapas plates don’t happen frequently anymore. I’ve been there but now I realize that $200 can buy a ticket to somewhere, even more, can buy me food for two weeks in most continents. There are so many people living on $200 a month or less. Spending such crazy amount in alcohol and fancy restaurants isn’t going to get me anywhere. The amount you would spend on tips on a weekend in the States is more than enough to host a barbecue for 20 people in brazil and it’s a lot more fun!
7. Adventure: One thing that came with travel was unabashed adventure. I have had so many adventures since I started traveling and I can honestly say, I fear nothing now. I have slept in -15 degree celsius in a car with no heat in Iceland, I have snorkeled way past the shore in the ocean though I am not a confident swimmer, I have learnt bodysurfing all by myself. Yes, I was hit by the waves on the head couple of times, yes, I thought I would die so many times when I almost drowned in the ocean but I am alive the next moment and that’s what keeps me going — killing the fear.
8. Learn Spanish. Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world. I am not fluent in it, but I can make small talk and know what people are saying. Its spoken in most countries in South America and is the second most spoken language in the United States. Most Portuguese speaking people understand Spanish, and of course people in Spain speak it. Latin music, culture and people are out of the world. So yes, learn Spanish and thank me later ;)
9. Its alright to not see the ‘must see’ places- Honestly, the must see places are the places decided by a few people that best interests them and mostly all these places are commercially driven and charge a bomb. I have been to a lot of ‘must see’ places and found nothing terrific about them. The most fun I’ve had is when I was either lost or just gallivanting around in the rented car. There is just so much to see and cherish when you drive aimlessly. Don’t always travel destination to destination. Reach anywhere and give your wanderlust a kick. It’s so much fun, gives you perspective and teaches you to be happy with newer unpopular things/places.
10. Being curious is the key- One must ask questions to self and to others, curiosity breeds knowledge and wisdom. I have always been a curious child and you can always find me asking way too many questions from people I stay with, people I meet during my travel, even the bakery/coffee shop guy. Its often less irritating and mostly results in happy conversation and voila, I learn so many things about that place like transport service, safety advice, best visited places, what price to pay for what kind of stuff. Be curious, with a smile on your face, approach people, be well mannered and polite and it will earn you so much information, for free that internet cannot, I repeat, CANNOT provide!!
11. Travel enriches your soul the way money can’t.
12. First world problems are shit.
13. Google maps are the best thing in the whole wide world.
14. Chilled Coconut water is the best drink in the world. Replenishes salts in the body, has so many electrolytes, is good for the skin and hair, tastes great and it’s coconut-no sugar or additives. I am a proud coco girl!
15. There is beauty everywhere, you just gotta change the direction you are facing.
16. Beautiful women can be found in all countries, and so can cute guys be ;)
17. Dogs everywhere are congenial. I wish I could rent a dog in every country I visit, my own little furball for the time I spend there.
18. Being funny and somewhat flirtatious gets the job done- almost everywhere. Relationship status has nothing to do with it. A little friendly chat with airline staff has gotten me upgraded, free food and special service ;). Friendly gestures and a smiling face has gotten me free drinks from the bartender with no motive of ‘befriending’ me. Random strangers have lend me ‘quarters’ for parking because I was sweet while asking for change in return of bigger bills. Though I don’t smoke, my partner uses me to get cigarettes from strangers when we travel and he is out of stock. I go and talk to the lady in smoking zone and end up getting a cigarette, they often extend the invite to ‘get the joint’ but I turn it down with a smile saying “tobacco is enough sin for today”
19. Never show people from third world countries how privileged you are but never forget that in your head.
20. Latin people are the most fun kind of people. Period.
