More than a year ago, around April 2009, I was chatting with four guys that I met in a hostel in Vientiane, Laos, a 50+ year old guy from New Zealand, a 30+ year old guy from Japan and the two mid -20s guys from Argentina and USA.
Murray, the guy from New Zealand asked us, “Why are you travelling?”
As soon as I put the bottle of Lao Beer on the table I said that I travel to see things and to marvel at places and monuments that I saw in my books when I was a kid.
Murray then said, “You’re a pretty uptight boy. Probably whenever you travel, you don’t talk to anyone. You just go to a tourist spot, take pictures, eat, drink and go back to your hostel and sleep.”
I was dumbfounded, what the hell was he talking about. This guy judged me right there and then. I was trying to smile even if I felt embarrassed with what he just said in front of the other travellers.
And then, I realized he was right. I used to travel just to see things, take pictures, eat, drink and then go back to my hostel and sleep. Occasionally, I talk to some strangers ask directions or whatever and then leave.
I didn’t bother about anyone.
I didn’t care.
I was too pre-occupied.
I was too stiff and uptight as what he just said.
I was too pre-occupied.
I was too stiff and uptight as what he just said.
I was still listening to the answers of everyone else when Murray said, ‘When you travel, don’t just go there, BE THERE! Eat with the locals and tourists, mingle with them, play a game with them, don’t be an outsider. Don’t let your mind wander off somewhere! BE THERE!”
And alas I was able to grasp on what he’s trying to say. The old guy finally made sense.
From that day forward, I always try my best to let go of my past and future worries and just ENJOY THE MOMENT wherever I am.
One of the best advices was given to me by someone I barely know, someone that I just met on the road. And his lesson will forever be remembered.
How about you? What's the best travel advice you've ever received?
Enjoy the Moment!
yeah, BE THERE and ENJOY THE MOMENT! me? i make friends with 'strangers'
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty good advice indeed :)
ReplyDeleteThis is great....it's totally what I believe! It's all about the moment.
ReplyDeleteI also think that it's important to get out of big cities when you can and definitely off the beaten path. You're more likely to meet locals and have great experiences. I also think it's good to put the camera down sometimes. It's easy to lose the moment to taking too many pictures. Good to stop yourself once in a while and just take it all in.
As for the best advice I've gotten, it was to pack light. And the few times I didn't, I learned my lesson. I'm definitely a light packer now. I have a medium-sized backpack--not a body bag. And it's working out great. That's my advice to anyone who's going to travel...
TRUE!!!
ReplyDeleteI got mine from a bohemian french lady while in Shanghai.
she said and I quote
"it's time to stop researching. google, virtual tourist, wikitravel are websites that are making traveling such an easy and cheap passion. start talking to locals, ask around and get lost... that's the true essence of traveling!"
PAKKKKK! sapol!
Ron
The best travel advice ever: take it all in, the culture, the people, heck even the smell. Oh, and when in doubt trust your instincts. And if i could just share one piece of advice to anyone traveling out there, travel solo!
ReplyDeleteI have to take that advice myself. Normally i am super uptight when travelling. Preoccupied of so many worries. time,places to go, budget, etc.On my next travel i would really take time to enjoy the people and their culture and never worried of time.Maybe i have to really plan everything to enjoy it.
ReplyDeletewow, new layout, i lilke it more! ♥
ReplyDeletebest travel advice: it wont make you less of a backpacker if you dont do what the common backpackers do.. it's okay to sometimes be out of the usual.
(actually, that's from Nina.. pareho kasi kaming hindi friendly at choosy paminsan. haha Ü)
That's so true, BE THERE!:) I'm guilty of this sometimes. When i started blogging I felt the need to take photos of helpful establishments and tourist spots & take down notes so I can share it online in case someone would need it,but at times I get too preoccupied that I barely enjoy my travel. I realized, I'm not like that before,traveling used to be a passion, a hobby, an escape, I wanna immerse in that place and their culture and talk to the locals but I feel like it's becoming a job. So from time to time, I do remind myself to slow down and immerse with the people. :) thnx for this great insight Flip.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for one of the best travel advice I guess it's..
it's not where you go. It's how you feel for a moment in your life when you're a part of something, and if you find that moment... it lasts forever... :)
happy travels Flip! :)
that made a lot of sense! :) if I would've a lot of time to stay then I'll do that.. most often than not, the priority's on taking pictures (and we love doing it of course..) but "feeling" the place itself is a different experience.. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat article flip! We do learn from people we've met on the road. One good tip I've received was to try to learn the language in whichever country I go. It's a fun way to meet and learn from the locals. And if you learn a few words, it makes them smile. It's easy to get frustrated at how few locals speak English especially since we're from a largely English speaking country. But to actually make an effort and try to speak the local language/dialect, it makes the journey much more interesting!
ReplyDeleteLois
@james: haha i started enjoying making friends with strangers too
ReplyDelete@nina: it is...
@lisa: im a heavy packer and i hated it... would definitely pack light next time...
@ron: getting lost... like sa nat geo hehe
@jerik: yup, gut feel tells it all...
@mr diamond: just like what simba said "hakuna matata (no worries)... hehe
@gael: i hear ya... live the moment...
@jeff: love taking pictures too... but sometimes i just over do it...
@lois: wish im a linguist but its hard for me to pick up a foreign word... good to know that you can easily learn languages :-) wish i can too hehe... ill try harder...
@chyng; thanks... took almost the whole day to change it... glad you like it...
ReplyDelete"So never refuse an invitation, never resist the unfamiliar, never fail to be polite and never outstay the welcome. Just keep your mind open and suck in the experience. And if it hurts, you know what? It's probably worth it."--from the novel (1996)/movie (2000) The Beach by Alex Garland.
ReplyDeleteThis is the unofficial best travel advice I got by far.
i've always been hesitant about joining some people due to some security concerns, but it tried it a couple of times in my 6 month backpacking and it was fun... though i still suggest taking necessary precautions, just trust your guut feel i guess.. :-) nice tip RV
ReplyDeleteGood bit of advice that is.
ReplyDeleteI've always gone on the classic - "It's not about the destination, it's all about the journey."
For me it doesn't matter where I'm going, it's the adventure along the way that makes it interesting.
Excellent post by the way.
Mine was "always say yes" so when you're tired and don't want to do something or go somewhere just say yes because it's more fun than saying no.
ReplyDeleteThat really is great advice. It's easy to just go somewhere, see the sites and not really be there. Traveling as an outsider is all too easy, but it doesn't get to the heart of the place you're visiting.
ReplyDeleteThe best advice I ever got was along those lines. I was advised to get out of the touristy areas and interact with the locals. If you think about it, interacting with the locals is one of the best ways to get to know a country.
@milt: true... it's always about the journey :-)
ReplyDelete@ayngelina: i still find it hard though to say yes to everything hehe... i remember a movie about that...
@steve: yup... its one of the best ways to really know a place and of course, visit their market...
He's a genius! Be there!
ReplyDeleteI don't travel a lot, I can't give any advice, I'm looking for some ;)
I've traveled out of the country twice already and I'm still 'uptight' in a way. Probably when I travel solo will I be more open since I can't really talk to anybody else.
ReplyDeleteI long for that day though. Hopefully, I'll experience the culture and immerse myself. Very insightful post Flip!
@minnie: im sure you'll get to a lot more places in the future. thanks for dropping by.
ReplyDelete@ed: pack your bags man and just fly out hehe...
Very well said by your Kiwi friend. Even I believe in meeting the locals, getting to be one of them. That way, you get to enjoy the local environment as they do. Even better, if you can make a difference to them.
ReplyDeleteflip,
ReplyDeletegreat advice mate and it certainly hits home. Too many times if you've been on the road a long time, you need reminded of this. Treasure the moment! I've been on the road for 4 years, blogging away, and anytime im feeling jaded, ill remember this article!
@sankara: so true... "if you can make a difference for them" i defintely agree on your statement...
ReplyDelete@johnny: wow! on the road for 4 years... oh man... i could only dream of doing that... indeed... Murray is right... live in the NOW! :-)