Travel broadens your horizons and provides new perspectives. While an all-inclusive holiday to a touristy destination is convenient and offers great value, sometimes you want more than a vacation. Venturing out of resort areas allows you to have more authentic experiences.
The best way to learn more about the culture is to connect with locals. Many people around the world speak English, but trying to speak the local language goes a long way to creating a more profound experience.
Whether you are a seasoned, street-smart traveler or would feel safer with more support, there are many options where you can find the right balance between comfort, convenience, adventure and enrichment.
The first time I went backpacking around Europe I was young, naïve and shy. My eyes were opened to a much wider world. I was nervous at first travelling on my own, but soon discovered that you’re never alone when travelling; there are many like-minded individuals happy to share experiences with you. I learned so much and met lots of new life-long friends.
The more I travel the more confident and adaptable I become. The more I am able to connect and communicate with locals, the richer and more memorable the encounters. Taking a Spanish course before travelling around Peru enhanced the experience by being able to get to know locals. In Africa, while I was waiting for a train that was 12 hours late, I had a memorable experience learning Swahili from locals who enjoyed passing the time chatting with a Mzungu (foreigner).
Talking to other travelers always inspires me. Everyone has interesting stories to tell about the places they’ve been, things they’ve done and people they’ve met in their travels.
In my opinion, travel is one of the most enriching experiences in life. I encourage everyone to share their stories and continue living new adventures.
Photo: BBC
