The Meaning of Travel?
Why travel?
The globe contains truly stunning places filled with every type of person. The culture that exists in each town, city, or countryside is formed from the people that passed through that very spot over the years, decades, and centuries. Travelling lets us appreciate the million different ways that people can live their lives.
The globe contains truly stunning places filled with every type of person. The culture that exists in each town, city, or countryside is formed from the people that passed through that very spot over the years, decades, and centuries. Travelling lets us appreciate the million different ways that people can live their lives.
Why do you love travelling?
We love seeing a country’s interpretation of the same thing. Order a ‘large’ drink in France, Canada, and the US and appreciate the spectrum of sizes from teacup to bathtub.
We love seeing a country’s interpretation of the same thing. Order a ‘large’ drink in France, Canada, and the US and appreciate the spectrum of sizes from teacup to bathtub.
Will travelling change my life?
Probably not in ways that you see in the movies. We haven’t found religion, or the purpose of life from travelling. We’ve discovered a million different ways we can live our lives and still be good people.
Probably not in ways that you see in the movies. We haven’t found religion, or the purpose of life from travelling. We’ve discovered a million different ways we can live our lives and still be good people.
What motivates you while travelling?
We love to play travel games and figure out puzzles. Some of our favourites are ‘what’s that smell?’, ‘should I eat it?’, and ‘how do I flush?’
We love to play travel games and figure out puzzles. Some of our favourites are ‘what’s that smell?’, ‘should I eat it?’, and ‘how do I flush?’
What's the value of travelling?
If you travel with someone, then you get to know them really well. Strong ties are built trying to navigate passport controls together in languages you don’t understand. Or the whole thing implodes. Both things can happen. Both things are valuable in their own right.
If you travel with someone, then you get to know them really well. Strong ties are built trying to navigate passport controls together in languages you don’t understand. Or the whole thing implodes. Both things can happen. Both things are valuable in their own right.
How has travel shaped you?
The world isn’t as scary as it looks on the news. Travelling has given us peace of mind. I now know most people don’t want to kill us. Most people want to live their lives in peace.
Also, travelling forced me to talk to people. I’m now really, really good at scripted small talk. This is a big deal for me, I’m an introvert.
The world isn’t as scary as it looks on the news. Travelling has given us peace of mind. I now know most people don’t want to kill us. Most people want to live their lives in peace.
Also, travelling forced me to talk to people. I’m now really, really good at scripted small talk. This is a big deal for me, I’m an introvert.
Travel Problems?
What can ruin a trip?
Unrealistic expectations.
Not having insurance.
Jail.
Unrealistic expectations.
Not having insurance.
Jail.
Is it risky to travel?
Yes and no. If you’re convinced that you will be robbed or shot as soon as you deplane, then I won’t convince you otherwise. For those people, travelling is too risky. For everyone else, travelling is awesome and worth the risk.
Yes and no. If you’re convinced that you will be robbed or shot as soon as you deplane, then I won’t convince you otherwise. For those people, travelling is too risky. For everyone else, travelling is awesome and worth the risk.
Does traveling have negative effects?
Short answer: ‘yes, many’. Crowding, high prices, stressed infrastructure, degraded sites. The list goes on. Don’t go to a touristy area and expect to find a local flavour. Popular tourist destinations take on their own persona which can be fascinating in their own way.
Short answer: ‘yes, many’. Crowding, high prices, stressed infrastructure, degraded sites. The list goes on. Don’t go to a touristy area and expect to find a local flavour. Popular tourist destinations take on their own persona which can be fascinating in their own way.
What are common travel problems?
- We order food and get something else entirely.
- Not knowing where we're going.
- Figuring out public transportation.
Don't Travel?
What is a good reason not to travel?
If you’ve tried travelling abroad and don’t like it, don’t keep doing it. Life is too damn short doing things you hate. And don’t feel like you need to justify your reasons to anyone. If you tell a travel junky that you travelled once and hated it, they’ll probably respond with ‘oh, you didn’t go to the right city’, or ‘you didn’t stay in the right place’, or ‘you just don’t want to make the effort to learn another custom’. You know what you hate.
If you’ve tried travelling abroad and don’t like it, don’t keep doing it. Life is too damn short doing things you hate. And don’t feel like you need to justify your reasons to anyone. If you tell a travel junky that you travelled once and hated it, they’ll probably respond with ‘oh, you didn’t go to the right city’, or ‘you didn’t stay in the right place’, or ‘you just don’t want to make the effort to learn another custom’. You know what you hate.
Am I weird if I don't like to travel?
Nope. In fact, you might be weird if you like wearing the same underwear for days. For me, travelling doesn’t necessarily mean going to foreign-speaking cities. Some of my favourite adventures have been to towns close to my home.
Nope. In fact, you might be weird if you like wearing the same underwear for days. For me, travelling doesn’t necessarily mean going to foreign-speaking cities. Some of my favourite adventures have been to towns close to my home.
Things we've learned over the years
Top 10 things to take on every trip
- Passport
- Credit card(s) (get these top two correct and everything else is fixable)
- Cash (just a little)
- Plane ticket
- Backpack (suitcases are hard work on cobble streets)
- Clothes
- Toothbrush, toothpaste
- Dental floss (doubles as thread)
- Needle
- Spork
Top 10 words to learn in any language
Start with these; go to conversation later.
Start with these; go to conversation later.
- Hello
- Please
- Yes, No
- I want
- This, That
- How much
- Too expensive
- Coffee
- Thank you
- Bye
Some ways to stay safe
- Read up on a place before you go. Know the 'no-go' places and the 'no-go' customs. Every place is different. In some places it's safer to keep your valuables on you, in other places it's safer to store them in your hotel room.
- Keep copies of all important documents. Take a photo or have a copy of the picture page of your passport, your credit cards, insurance documents, plane tickets, and keep them in a place where you can access them. You can give copies to friends or family back home or keep copies in the cloud. Either way, if you lose everything, you'll be able to get to those important documents.
- Look respectable but not wealthy. Being clean and respectable helps you avoid issues with the law, but keeping expensive name brand items and jewelry out of sight helps to keep the target off your back from thieves.
- Trust your gut. Don't try to rationalize away an unsafe feeling. As travellers, we don't have the luxury of fully appreciating the nuances of local culture and what's safe and what isn't. If you feel unsafe in a place, move on.
- Walk with purpose. If you find yourself in a dodgy area, walk like you know where you're going: head up (but eyes slightly off to one side so as to avoid inadvertent eye contact), looking straight ahead, and walking at business pace. Check your map/phone inside a store or once you feel safe.
- Wear sunglasses to avoid eye contact. This is especially true for the ladies.
- Dress modest, act modest. Save the bright clothes and antics for places that encourage it. Standing out in the wrong place or time attracts bad attention.
- Be weary of people that approach you in the street. Don't give up too much information. Most people approach us to practice their English or sell us something, but some people have bad intentions and it's not always easy to tell these people apart.
- Keep valuables hidden. Sounds obvious right? Use a money belt to keep cards safe. Be discrete, use your body as a shield when taking anything valuable out so people don't see where you keep them on yourself. If you use a wallet, keep it in your front pocket. I keep the card I use for everyday purchases in a wallet that only contains that card and enough money for the day. Everything else is in the money belt. I keep my card and my phone separate to avoid losing both things at once. This potentially means that I increase my chances of losing one thing. Keep your hand on your phone and your phone in a pocket when walking through crowded areas.
- Set things down in front of you. Not beside you or behind you. I was sitting with a guy in a Bolivian cafe that had his day bag stolen off the back of his chair while he was sitting there. If you're putting your backpack down, put it on the floor below you and put your foot between the straps.
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