Connect With Travel
|
We have met people who are traveling just so they can tick one more country off their list and impress the neighbors, but wow, what a waste not to connect with travel and really learn something.
You don't have to be traveling on your own to connect. You can find ways to learn about local customs and people if you're on a tour.
Ask questions... don't be shy. If you're strolling through a local market in Borneo, and you don't know what that fruit is.... ask. People love to share their culture with you if you show an interest. You might even end up with a taste... though if it's durian you might want to pass.
Talk to local workers instead of just taking pictures of them....
On the waterfront of Dubai Creek, we wanted to take pictures of the old wooden dhows. My hubby started chatting with the dock workers. Next he was helping them load boxes onto the dhows, and we were talking politics.... The American tourists making friends with the Iranian and Pakistani dock workers! We were having fun, and they now had a slightly better view of Americans.
Instead of rushing in and out of a famous church before the service begins, linger and listen. In Munich one time, we were about to leave a church because the service was ready to start, but a local invited us to stay for something "Frei". We weren't sure what it was, but it was free. We stayed and enjoyed the most fantastic Mozart concert you can imagine.
Join in the evening "passeggiata" in Italy. It's "el paseo" in Spain. You'll find that all over southern Europe, locals stroll and stop to chat with each other. Smile and nod, you might strike up a conversation. Ask the locals where they go for dinner. That small local place can be a real prize even if you can't read the menu.
Instead of saying "It's all Greek to me," get friendly and curious. In a little town in Greece where no one spoke English, we ditched the menu and went into the kitchen.... then we just pointed to what we wanted to eat.... it was absolutely wonderful... and so cheap we thought they had made a mistake on the bill.
Visit a supermarket. It's fun to see what they're selling and how they sell it. Look around to see what's really different and what's pretty much the same.
Accept invitations. We were invited to visit a local school in Nairobi by some teachers we just happened to meet. When we got to the school, each of the classes had prepared a song or a skit for us. It was a real eye opener when the 2nd graders did a poem about AIDS, but what a wonderful experience we would have missed if we had been shy and said no. After school we went with the teachers to a local African sports bar. Our safari was wonderful, but the school experience really allowed us to connect with travel and the local culture.
So break out of your shell, try something different, talk to strangers.... really connect with travel.
Happy travels... even if you don't travel the world... just remember that life is a journey... embrace and enjoy it! Judy and Mark
Hotel and B&B Tips l Packing Lists
Go from Connect With Travel to MouseToursTravels Home Page
Privacy and Legal Policy
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Did it help with your travel planning and preparation? Eager to leave on that next vacation? Please leave your tips or comments in the box below.
Try It For Yourself - Risk Free Psst... What's BB2? Read the buzz...  We want you to feel comfortable out in the world and on our pages - so surf away in your own language... The almonds and mustard are blooming The grapes will soon bud out  It's Fall in the Southern Hemisphere... Great time for an Australia Wine Tasting Drive. It's a great time to travel almost anywhere in the world! Are you planning your travels? We're planning a custom tour on the TranSiberian/Trans-Mongolian Railway. We'll travel for a month using our packing lists. Our Mixed Weather Packing List should be perfect. You too can get great travel clothes and supplies at... Magellans Travel Supplies Threads 4 Thought and Eco friendly clothing At Exofficio Do YOU need some trip ideas? Europe Travel Ideas Africa Dream List Travel In America Foreign Is Fun - Not Scary! Travel Planning International Travel Planning Tips Guidebooks can help you plan What About Your Passport? Time to get one... or renew... We'll need visas for Russia and China. What about you? Answers about Passports and Visas Get Planning and Get Going! We always say shop and compare at several sources. Here are some of our favorites... Cheap airfare, hotels, car rentals, vacations and cruises at Expedia.com! All the best hotel sites in one place right here. Hotels Combined... We are not travel agents, but we're affiliated with these and other great companies. What's Yours? We have lots of fun traveling... and we've had lots of fun creating this website. It earns us money too! No get-rich quick scheme here.... just honest pages about our travels. Is this something you've ever wanted to try? Are you passionate or knowledgeable about something? An expert even? Boats ...or... business? Plants ...or... parenting? Anything! Turn it into a web business. Click on the SBI TV icon below and learn how a new life could be yours...
Why NOT you? If you're like me, you like to talk to a real person and get answers to your questions... We get that! Honest answers... honestly ...Promise! Like Our Site Top Left Like Our Fanpage Below Thank You!  "I love your website! It's easy to read, informative and engaging. I will come back and explore it over and over because I know there will be interesting things I missed the first time." --Dave, California "Your carry-on packing tips helped me so much. I never thought I could pack light enough, but with your packing tips and your packing lists, I CAN do it. I thank you, and my husband thanks you!" --Debbie, Florida "Thanks for this site.... it's great stuff!" --Jim, Canada "I just started reading and love your site! I haven't even read much, but I had to stop and tell you 'yeah!' I am excited to pack well for this trip and start planning the next one!" --Natalie, U.K. |
