This IS Your Chance To Try a New Way of Travel
Have you travelled to different places but felt you never got a touch or sense of culture, people and impact?
Were you left with that lingering feeling that you should have connected or experienced more?
That yearning (aka your inner voice) means that you’re leaning more towards Meaningful Travel, something that a Digital nomadic lifestyle allows but that’s for another article.
Travelling this way can be hard, you have to face some challenges, step outside your comfort zone but also end up with the most fulfilling travel adventures.
Let’s start with an example of two different types of women travelling to Paris, France.
Person A: Went to Paris with her Boyfriend, visited the Eiffel Tower, ate at the more instagram-able place, shopped at Champs-Élysée and came back
https://gfycat.com/unrealistictenseamericanavocet
Person B: Solo travelled to Paris, stayed in a shared Airbnb, experienced a typical Parisian breakfast with her host, walked around her way and stopped at the local boulangerie, then walked into a quaint hidden museum, whilst looking at art — made a friend.
She came back with new friends, rich experiences and a new recipe to share with friends.
Let’s take a look at another example set in Bali, Indonesia
Person A: Went to Bali with her friends, stayed at a Villa, partied at cool beach clubs met some men for drinks, soaked in the sun, surfed a bit and spend time with friends on endless spa dates.
Person B: Went to Bali with her Boyfriend, they both had similar intentions from the get go and planned their trip with strong intent to experience culture and give back Post Covid — Bali economy
They took cultural tours, invested beforehand to understand Bali’s current situation and contributed by being mindful, tipping and taking part in a garbage clean up (ended up meeting more like minded people)
They also developed some connections for their life path and came back with a strong sense of service and self love.
While none of the scenarios are right or wrong, to each his own.
We need to pick the one, that gives us a deeper sense of meaning and value
If you’d like to be Person B, then keep reading on!
It’s time to embrace a new way to travel and experience Joy!
Immerse in the local culture
Start by taking a bike tour, cooking class or a wine tasting class
There are plenty on TripAdvisor and Airbnb experiences
Be respectful of the culture
This is given, you shouldn’t impose or behave in a manner that disregards the local culture.
A great example would be if you’re in a place where people eat with their hands you have only 2 options
Option 1: Embrace it, it can be life changing
Option 2: Respectfully ask for cutlery
Forge conversations and connections
When you’re travelling with someone, it’s often easy to get lost in your own bubble and not experience the place and the people
Why not take a solo trip this time? You’ll be forced to engage
PRO TIP — stay in a hostel or join a adventure group
Don’t buy a souvenir, get an experience
Don’t spend a day looking for souvenir’s but go to your local bar, museum, church or anything that can leave you with the energy that you’ve experienced something beyond your day to day
Leave the place a little better than before
It could be as little as open mindedness towards the culture, being polite, tipping, engaging in conversations to volunteering.
These are just some ways to get started, if you’d like a Part 2 on the topic, drop by in the comments section!
Sooo, What’s the next trip you’re taking?
Thanks for reading.Happy learning 😄
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