Wherever you are from, home is where the heart is. I believe that you cannot truly experience life until you travel. I have had some of my best moments away from home in distant lands and unique cultures. There is something special about opening your mind to new ideas and in turn people opening up to learn about you. I will provide a few tips and anecdotes that stick out in my memory as life changing experiences when traveling.
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.”
Anthony Bourdain
This is one of my favorite quotes from a world traveler, whose life revolved around visiting different places and experiencing new cultures.
Don’t be afraid of going where others do not
Many times when people, and especially Americans travel, they go to the touristy places, the places you read about in books, and the locations that are famous on social media. Many people like to be in their comfort zone. If you truly want to experience another culture and travel, avoid these places and go somewhere where you can find deeper meaning and awareness.
One example that comes to mind is my most recent trip to Costa Rica. When I was younger, I went to places known to attract tourists (Arenal, Manuel Antonio.) The second time around, I sought to take a different trip. I traveled to the Osa Penisula in southern Costa Rica, staying at a family run, local hostel. This was definitely out of my comfort zone, as there was no air conditioning, phone service, and the owners only spoke Spanish. It was a long journey to get there. After flying from Miami to San Jose, my friend and I then took a 5 hour bus ride to Palma Norte, and then a 30 minute Taxi to a Sierpe. After spending the night in this small town on the Sierpe River, we took an hour and a half boat taxi to Drake Bay, and then south to San Josecito. While it took almost a day to get there, it paid off.
The trade off was that it was a paradise. With no more than 10 people where we were staying, we had the beach virtually to ourselves. The same can be said when hiking on different trails in the rainforest.
Go out of your comfort zone
Many things that you are afraid of can end up being the most rewarding and memorable experiences in life. When traveling, in addition exploring new, less touristy places, go on excursions and participate in activities you normally would not. Try to not stop your fear from skydiving if you are afraid of heights or scuba diving if you are afraid of sharks. I promise, you will not regret it.
Eat As Much Local Food As Possible
Yes with today’s technology you can use apps like TripAdvisor and Yelp to find the restaurants with the best reviews. DON’T DO THAT!!! Ask locals where they eat, search menus on the street and decide for yourself.
