Today i am delighted to announce, i have a brand new guest post from Megan who runs the travel blog www.foreignaussie.com(we love a good Aussie, after all). Megan’s blog and travel lifestyle focuses on authentic and affordable travel which is something i like to represent here on Travelorlabout.
I asked Megan to give me(and you guys) an insight into ways she experiences more meaningful travel. I hope this post from Megan inspires you to experiment a little more with your travels, so that you can discover unique moments in foreign lands for yourself. Here are Megan’s suggestions:
When I’m on a trip and I overhear someone complain about the customs, language or food it always makes me want to tap them on the shoulder and ask “what exactly did you expect?” Not kidding I once heard someone yell “OMG DOESN’T ANYONE HERE SPEAK ENGLISH?!” errr you’re in Asia lady.
Sadly it happens more often than not. Here’s a few more corkers I’ve heard; “there’s no burger on the menu” … “you’d think they’d signpost it better” … “that music is so annoying” If, like me you love immersing yourself in new cultures by getting lost, challenging yourself and trying new things, read on. If you have a similar attitude to the lady who was angry that fluent English wasn’t spoken in rural Thailand, I fear this post will be of no value to you.
Live Like a local
Hotels have an industrial and impersonal vibe, especially chain hotels! My advice is to steer clear of them and stay in a local home. Use sites like Airbnb and HomeAway to find your accommodation, for a short time you’ll be living just like a resident and not only will it enrich your experience but more often than not it’s far cheaper too!
In my experience Airbnb hosts have made me feel like a family member and at the end of my stay instead of saying goodbye to a stranger behind a hotel reception desk I’ve felt as if I’m saying goodbye to a friend.
Megan off to experience the road less travelled
Eat at Local Hotspots
When searching for a place to eat try and find a restaurant whose menu is the local language. English menu’s with pictures of the food are a clear indicator of a tourist focused facility that will lack authenticity. In order to find such places you will need to venture outside popular tourist areas which will require some walking! But your efforts will be worth it.
Don’t be afraid to ask the local’s for recommendations either. I never mind walking 30 extra minutes if it means being rewarded with a culturally rich dining experience. The food will be cheaper at local hot spots too! You might not know exactly what you’re ordering and there will likely be a language barrier between you and the staff, but it doesn’t get much more authentic that that!
Take the road less Travelled
Of course you’re going to see the big sites, nobody’s going to Rome and skipping the Colosseum because it’s too touristy! But for more authentic experiences you need to venture further afield. Walk with the intention of getting lost! Whenever I do that I always end up finding something interesting.
In Poland on one of these exploratory walks I stumbled upon an enchanting Jewish cemetery. It was dripping in history and the grave stones towered above my head making me feel like I was in a gigantic stone maze, it was a fantastic experience and one that I would have missed out on if I hadn’t made the effort to explore outside of popular areas. Another great way to get off the tourist path is hiring a scooter or a car. When I went to Ibiza one of the best things I did was hire a scooter for 2 days and buzz around the coastline of the island discovering as many beaches as I could, you’ll be amazed at what you discover when you leave urban areas to explore the countryside.
A view from a road less travelled
Be friendly and get chatting to locals
Don’t put a shield up between yourself and the locals! Whenever you get the chance to have a conversation with locals, take it. Doing so can result in wonderfully rich travel experiences. In Thailand I got chatting to some of the locals who worked on the beach, we ended up making such good friends that on several separate occasions during that 3 week trip I was invited into family homes for meals and even to one of their father’s birthday celebrations! We are still close friends to this day.
Take a moment to absorb it all
Allow a day or at least a few hours to simply ‘be’ where you are. Some of the most memorable experiences I’ve had on my travels have been when I didn’t have a plan, days when there was no pressure to get out the door and rush to see a particular attraction before it got too busy. During that time simply do whatever you want to! . Stop and reflect on where you are in the world, the smells, the sounds and the colours.
Sit in a park or at a local café with a good book and relax, watch the world go by and the locals going about their day. Soak it all up before it’s time to leave because I think too many of us rush through our holidays, always moving toward the next ‘thing’ to see without ever taking the time to actually enjoy it.
Now you’ve read these tips I hope you put them into action! In fact I challenge you to. Let go of your reservations and dive into the slightly uncomfortable but incredibly rewarding depths of ‘real’ travel. I guarantee you’ll thank yourself for it!
Author: Megan Watts. www.foreignaussie.com
Thank you to Megan for these very insightful tips on experiencing travel the non- touristy way. Does travelling like this sound like something you would like try?
Also if any of you would like to contribute a guest post to my blog, please get in touch via email at orla@travelorlabout.com with your idea/ideas or drop your suggestions into the comment box below.
Awesome tips! It usually takes a total shift of mindset for people when they first travel outside of their home country. But once that shift in mindset happens, a whole world to explore opens up.
Yes Rachel, it can be hard for some people to step outside of their comfort zone but travelling certainly helps.
Very nice pictures great you look very good and pretty.