Subject: human
Image: austin hill.
Whenever I'm traveling, or even just out exploring in Seattle, I've always got a collection of things that I keep a lookout for. A pulled pork sandwich. A stack of vintage LPs. Food cooking in an open air market. These are things that cause me to drop my plans to stop and stay awhile. Not necessarily addictions (ok, maybe they are just a little), but glimpses into my personality, who I am, and what I love. They make travel, and life in general, more fun.
I'm sure you've got your own set of favorites, all your own, that you indulge in on a regular basis. But do you take those with you when you travel? If you don't you should.
While many of my finds are serendipitous, some of the best encounters were planned well in advance, so I suggest that you factor in your personality when you plan your next trip. Instead of following the guidebook itinerary blindly, give yourself time to visit that antique shop in Paris, or Italian comic book store, or a bakery in Vietnam. Think about what you really enjoy when you're at home, do some research before you leave, and give yourself time to discover your foreign self.
Image: dannyman.
Hotels are often cold, lifeless places to return to after a day in a foreign land. If you're on a business trip, you might relish the chance to unwind and buffer yourself from the business day. But, a traveler likes to meet people, experience the culture and get a taste of the place that they're visiting. And, a hotel makes it entirely too easy to miss out on this experience.
If you're not naturally outgoing, staying outside of a hotel is even more important. In a hotel, it's easy to let your inner homebody ruin your trip. You're simply too comfortable. Instead, plan on staying somewhere where you have to interact with others. Good or bad, it will make for a memorable travel experience, where you can say you've lived like a local. I'll admit, I definitely have my days where I just want to hide in my room and ignore the rest of the world. But, my most memorable trips have been ones in the homes of others, getting dragged out to a party or on an impromptu siteseeing tour. Keep on reading for a few alternatives to staying in a traditional hotel.
Image: pure9.
It's been way too hot to think here in Seattle, so instead of something new, I'll share with you one of my favorites from the past.
Are you a traveler who likes to make your itinerary nice and tidy, completely booked from start to finish? Does the thought of something unexpected happening, or something changing, freak you out a little? If so, you might just be missing out on some of the best parts of traveling: the spontaneity of changing your mind, your plans, and your direction, for whatever reason.
Image: preciouskhyatt.
At the heart of every rushed itinerary, every tiring trip, is the idea that you've got to see everything. After all, what if you never go back? That means you'll never see that statue, the famous museum, or that great little neighborhood that everyone says you should visit. How will you ever do it all?
Image: Malingering.
It was a dark and stormy night...and you're starving. Or, like I've experienced many times, you've freshly arrived in a far away country and are jet lagged like crazy. You need to eat, but don't have the energy to sit down at a proper restaurant. You saw that little fast food place down the street, but resorting to that makes you feel almost...guilty. After all, aren't you in a place with great local cuisine? Shouldn't you be eating something fabulous?
Image: Norma Desmond.
Although I'm sure you don't need science to tell you, being in the city can be tiring. With all of the distractions, the lights, noise, and crowded streets, our brains get fatigued quickly when exposed to urban environments, even for short amounts of time. So what's the urban traveler to do?
Image: CDrewing.
Think about how you visit cities for a moment. You might find yourself drawn towards the big attractions: the monuments, the museums, what you're "supposed to see." Rinse, wash, repeat. The world becomes a homogeneous place filled with McDonalds, Starbucks, and the Gap. But what about the parts that aren't in the guidebooks, that doesn't get the attention it deserves? On your next trip, take a moment, or heck, take a whole day, and get to know the heart and soul of a neighborhood through its own eyes.
Image: Zach_ManchesterUK.
People travel, but often forget to do it like the humans we are. This year, we've touched on a few of the aspects of travel that are close to our heart, so enjoy a look back at Travel Like A Human Being for 2008.
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