10 lessons that I drew, years traveling alone
Travels Inspiration / / December 19, 2019
Travel - it's wonderful. On our planet are so many wonderful places, it becomes unclear, and how to see at least a small part of them?
Designer and photographer from San Francisco Keegan Jones embodied the dream of many a reality. He traveled light years in length by himself. And, of course, he shared his experience. He wrote about 10 lessons which learned from his travels. And we pass his experience to you.
1. You remember people, not places
If you do not communicate with people in a few days, or even weeks, you begin to feel an acute shortage of communication. I will never forget the spontaneous conversation with a fisherman, a forester and a strange woman in a supermarket in Thailand.
Do not be afraid to start a conversation with strangers. Many of them are also curious and hungry for adventure. A conversation with a stranger - it's even a small, but still a spectacular event. That's what I usually worked out for yourself:
Always be those who start the conversation.
Following this rule, I met lots of great people.
2. Travel can be enjoyed
Long-term travel is not like a gorgeous week tours. The main purpose of such trips - to see the world, not to sleep in five-star hotels. My trip took place in the narrow confines of the budget. I tried to spend on housing no more than $ 33 a day.
By the middle of the journey I was able to cut that amount to $ 26 per day The service Airbnb and HostelWorld. When I had a desire to communicate with people, I have stayed in hostels. If I wanted to be alone, I booked the room through Airbnb.
Take the cost for housing costs, add to her monthly spending on food and divide by 30. You will receive an amount that takes you on a daily basis at home accommodation. I'm pretty confident that this amount can travel. You will not be able to stay in the coolest hotels and dining in expensive restaurants, but then you do not need it, right?
3. travel light
I carried a very few things and tried to be as selective. I would say that it is a wonderful feeling when you step out of the plane with a backpack. I have not bought a single souvenir, simply because I did not have too much space in your backpack. Everything was planned out.
I became more sensible attitude to acquisitions and ill "materialism", realizing that many seemingly irreplaceable buying really are not.
Here You can read the article Keegan about things in his backpack.
4. Traveling alone - is not for everyone
Sometimes I was damn lonely. You have a huge amount of time for introspection and thought. It can be very serious stuck in his head. Believe me, you do not want. If you introvert, Then this trip will be to your liking. If you like noisy companies, and to be one for you - the flour, then you already know the answer.
5. Do not hurry
To move from place to place every few days is very difficult. From my experience, the place should be changed every two weeks. This time, just enough to see all the sights, talk to people and understand their culture. Also during this time, you can plan your next steps.
6. Travel - a paradox
If you are traveling to escape from the worries - this does not work. They follow you. Moreover, traveling alone, you are even more obsessed with their own problems. travel paradox lies in the fact that you want the routine when you travel for too long. Therefore, most balance between routine and travel.
7. People are the same everywhere
You will not believe how much we look alike. Everybody wants the same: love, understanding and confidence in their future. I met a lot of people who took important decisions. For example, a country in which to work or live. The bottom line is that none of them had no idea what to do.
Some simply are good to pretend as if they know what they do. In fact, this is not always the case.
8. The house can be anywhere
You can build your house at any point on the globe. Over time you get used to the local culture and people. Absolutely real to buy a ticket to any country, fly there, to find a job, a house and make friends. It's not as difficult as I thought before.
A friend of mine has a theory: the easiest way to move - is to have $ 5000 or 5 friends in this city.
9. English - the universal language
I was very surprised at how many people speak English. But the place in which English in wonder, still met. Then I tried to learn the most necessary words and phrases in the local language.
It is also possible to communicate without saying a word. For example, one day I forgot my phone in a restaurant in Chile. I showed the waiter at the table where I was sitting, put his hand to his ear and shrugged. After 2 minutes, the phone has been with me.
10. trust your instincts
Not immediately, but I still learned to trust that little voice in your head. When you're in a strange country, and the sat phone, you're not much of a choice. Is it safe to be in this area? Do I go? These are the questions I could answer only instinct.
I think that intuition - it is a muscle. The more you are using it, the stronger it becomes. It's like a sixth sense that helps to read between the lines.
When you have finished your journey, I realized that incredibly happy. Our planet is large and very beautiful. I also realized that it is impossible to see all its wonders, even in my entire life. But I will try and soon commit another trip! And what you suggest.
see also
- How to pack a suitcase from military life hacking
- English for tourists: 135 most useful phrases
- Koliving: as a hostel of the XXI century helps save, communicate and create startups