I have just returned from 4 weeks of traveling, where I went to Dubai, Bali, and Berlin. During these holidays, I experienced 3 different types of trips. In this article, I will share the reasons why I enjoyed each of these journeys.
Having fun and enjoying the trip
Here are the 5 things that make one trip different from another or that make us appreciate a trip:
- Encounters, during my trip to Dubai, Bali, and Berlin, I had the chance to meet people from all over the world, whether Americans, Europeans, or locals. All these experiences made my trip unique and unforgettable. I often repeat a phrase, “Everyone might visit the same places, but what makes the difference is the people you meet.” What I needed for that: knowing how to speak several languages and always taking the first step. With practice, it becomes automatic.
- The unforgettable experience, it can be an encounter, an event, a unique experience. For example, I found myself at a punk concert while walking home from a club in Berlin. At that moment, I was the only Asian (which doesn’t surprise me) and I wasn’t dressed for the event, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it. How to provoke it? You always have to step out of your comfort zone and not wait for things to happen, you have to make them happen.
- Trying new things, during my first trip to Thailand, I tried bungee jumping even though I am afraid of heights, I learned to dive, and I also tried eating things I didn’t know. It is by trying and making mistakes that we learn. These are not necessarily crazy things but things that change. What drives me to do this: a hint of curiosity and a touch of madness.
- Seeing the city by day and by night, if you have never gone out at night in London or Berlin, I can tell you that you have only visited 50% of what the city could have shown you. Seeing a city during the day is good, but seeing it at night is even better. I’m not just talking about partying; there are places that are only open at night: for example, markets or neighborhoods that are lively only in the evening. You need: a little more energy, because visiting at night is as tiring as during the day.
- Immersing yourself in the place or acting like the locals, there are two types of tourists: those who are just there to visit and those who want to know a bit more. Each of these travel styles is different, and I think the second one comes back a little more enriched from their experience abroad. It is often said that exoticism attracts, and this is exactly the case. If you go abroad and do not discover its culture, its people, and the particularities of the country, you have missed part of your trip. This can also mean trying local cuisine, customs, etc. What you need to do to address this: go to less touristy places, talk with locals, take an interest in lesser-known spots.
It is this whole combination of things that makes me appreciate my trips.
And you? What are the things you appreciate when you travel?
