INTERVIEWEE B
26, Male, Design Intern / Freelancer
B prefers free and easy traveling more, as he gets to enjoy the trip without following strangers around, and it is more exciting when he doesn’t know where he’s going next.
B went on a day tour to Johor Bahru (also free and easy) with his friends on his latest trip. For the last tour which involves a flight, B went to Krabi (free and easy) with his friends for 5 days.
Since both trips were recent and the experience was similar, B answered according to the country (Krabi/JB) that gave more story.
This was his process of getting ready for his Krabi trip.
** PAIN POINT DURING PLANNING (KRABI) **
Getting into the same consensus when planning their activities. Since it is a free and easy trip among friends, everyone would like to explore and do the activities they are interested in.
[insight from his experience]
Traveling with friends is always exciting. Especially when it’s free and easy, which provides the freedom that cannot be achieve when traveling with a tour or family. But with such freedom, each individual is busy focusing on what they want to do, hence it is crucial to accommodate to one another.
** PAIN POINTS/EXPERIENCES IN KRABI **
01 There are many transgender locals.
- This culture has been brought to B’s knowledge even before traveling to Thailand.
- B knows that most people will think of it as a culture shock, though to him it did not feel shocking. Instead, it was more of an “oh okay that’s their culture, cool.”
- If anything, he considers it a “pleasant culture shock”, since he expects to meet some of them and when he did, the interaction and experience were enjoyable.
[insight from his experience]
Understanding a country’s culture beforehand helps foreigners prepare and expect what is to come in another country. Going with an open mind helps to manage any expectations the foreigner may have in regard of the culture.
02 Though the native language is Thai, locals can speak/understand basic English.
B speaks English and Mandarin Chinese. He did not learn Thai before traveling there, as he knew most of them could speak and understand basic English.
- B was not concerned about the language barrier, as he believes that he could still “use actions to convey what we wanted”.
- Because the locals could speak his language, B has no intention to learn Thai, though he admits “it’ll be more fun” to interact with them.
If he had to learn, “basic phrases will go a long way.” - B thinks it’s more challenging to go to a country that speaks the language we know, for instance, Taiwan. “The fact that you’ll speak Chinese because you know it. But their level is so different from ours, in that sense, it humbled me.”
Hence, B rather travels to a place where he doesn’t know the language.
[insight from his experience]
Communicating with another that uses a foreign language goes beyond just linguistics, as some hand actions and graphic signs are universal. Also due to tourism, many locals in countries that do not use English (the universal language) has begun learning them to interact and connect with foreigners.
** PAIN POINTS/EXPERIENCES IN JB **
03 Transport system is not exactly accessible.
- There is hardly any public transport in JB since the majority of the locals drive. B and his friends were heavily reliant on ride-hailing apps, more specifically Grab.
- Unlike in Krabi, where a single ride to one location leads to many attractions/activities, B had to grab every time they change a location in JB.
- Also, there were few pedestrian roads, which makes it challenging to walk to the next location. Occasionally, B and his friends had to walk to the side of the road.
[insight from his experience]
Road conditions and transport systems differ for every country, so it is crucial to plan and know how to get to the next destination in a foreign country. And no matter what, safety is always the number one priority.
** WAYS/TIPS TO IMPROVE EXPERIENCE FOR FUTURE TRIPS **
- Visit destinations with an open mind.
Though B does research on destinations, some do fall short of expectation, especially when reviews really hype it up. It’s the expectations vs reality of the place that can bring down the overall experience in a country, so it’s crucial to manage one’s expectations. - Be open to new experiences.
One thing B loves about free and easy is how carrying out impromptu plans is easy when everyone’s on board. “Those are the best kind of adventure honestly.” - Learn about the potential dangers in a foreign country.
Every country carries its own potential danger, though “some more prominent than the rest, like Europe with pickpockets”. It’s crucial to read up more about the dangers, so one can take more precautions when there. - Following a foreign country’s culture.
Whether through research, talking to friends, or personal experiences, learning the basic culture (the dos and don’t, to tips in eateries etc.) can elevate one’s traveling experience. When foreigners respect the locals, locals tend to respect the foreigners too.
** OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE PRODUCTS/MEDIUM TO IMPROVE TRAVELING EXPERIENCE **
The following aims to uncover opportunities that can be explored for my ongoing project to improve one’s traveling experience.
Below are some suggestions for my project that B has provided.
- Providing a simplified experience of being in a country, while in the comfort of one’s home.
A concise package with the proposed features (mentioned above) to tell people more about a country’s culture–– almost like a mini pre-trip. In short, to know “the full package of what the country offers — the more touristy spots and non-touristy spots”. - A social platform catered only to travelers.
They can share their stories through forums, and use a filter to sieve out keywords to customize their feed with forums that have adventures they wish to embark on. For instance, “Rural, road trips, Melbourne, Sydney, 2–4 people, 5 days”.
[Audio recordings of the convo can be found here.]