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Lately I've been finding myself sitting at home quite often due to nothing going on.
I'll peruse Facebook events postings and even look through newspaper event guides.
With nothing really piquing my interest in near of far-away cities, I simply just sigh in disgust and wait around until something interesting to do shows up.
With that in mind, I'm curious to the reasoning of traveling to certain places when an event or a specific festival isn't going on.
I'd never thought I'd say this, but I think general sight-seeing and just going places with no particular goal in mind is boring.
I have a sketchbook, so I don't need events to stay occupied. In fact the only reason I go to 'fun' events is for extra interesting things to draw. But I think if I was just there to look at sites and not immerse myself into them like I can with a sketchbook then I would find it boring. If you don't draw then I think writing in a journal about it would essentially be the same, just less visual.
I like both. There are plenty of major events that I enjoy being a part of (or hope to someday), but at the same time I have just as much fun traveling places just to immerse myself in the culture or community that lives there. Whether it's exotic (like Thailand) or not (like Kansas City) I'll be happy to people watch and do the things that locals do on a regular basis.
I went to Nepal with an adventure travel group and it turned out I was the only one in the "group." I had a personal tour with the Nepali crew for almost three weeks and we went places I certainly wouldn't have known to go to (or wouldn't have had access to). Like the new monastery at Thangboche- my guide had gone to elementary school with the head lama and I had a private audience and saw the Bhutanese workers carving the new Buddha statues for when the monastery opened. I attended Buddhist ceremonies at my guide's sister's house. When I wanted to visit two clinics instead of Everest Base Camp, I was able to do that.
The hotel in the city was very beautiful and very "local" feeling. One of the group's staff took me to dinner in a local place. I just don't think I would have found these things on my own, especially since I wasn't just there with time to wander around. I wouldn't have known what to pick up on and what to pass by.
When I left, my guide said, "You have been the most... frank... of visitors." I still wonder what he meant!
Exploration would probably be more interesting if there were a local group of people to tag along with.
And no, not the flashy, tour guide types.
I mentioned urban exploration in another thread and to me that's one way to explore the more exotic or darker areas of a particular region that don't usually show up on a typical tourist itinerary.
I've thought about doing some things solo, but then I'd feel like some 1/2 baked, CIA operative.
But that's just me.
Yes, that's just you. I've traveled to many places both in the U.S. and overseas by myself. I've never had a bad time being a solo tourist and I don't need an event. Maybe I just enjoy my own company.
I travel for two reasons: music and shopping. I went to Paris and rented a loft for weeks to mainly see one of my favorite bands, Jamiroquai. Recently, it was Guatemala to shop at the open markets.
Figure out what you are passionate about and incorporate that into your trips.
I have a sketchbook, so I don't need events to stay occupied. In fact the only reason I go to 'fun' events is for extra interesting things to draw. But I think if I was just there to look at sites and not immerse myself into them like I can with a sketchbook then I would find it boring. If you don't draw then I think writing in a journal about it would essentially be the same, just less visual.
I take a lot of photos and I especially like taking ones of landscape or different architectural styles.
Yes, that's just you. I've traveled to many places both in the U.S. and overseas by myself. I've never had a bad time being a solo tourist and I don't need an event. Maybe I just enjoy my own company.
Same here. I can travel solo, or with husband, or with family or friends. All are good.
When I spent several months in Europe traveling alone, most of the time it was great, but there were a few times being with someone would have been more fun.
When I spent several months in Europe traveling alone, most of the time it was great, but there were a few times being with someone would have been more fun.
I went to Ireland on my own and rented a car (mandatory!). The only time I wished I had a companion was when I ate in nice restaurants at dinnertime. Otherwise, I was fine on my own.
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