Travel Confessions

Liz, an amazing American writer, photographer and fellow-adventurer, who is living in Sweden with her wife tagged me in her post about travel confessions and wanted me to take the challenge that’s being passed through travel blogs on WordPress, and I’m really honored that she picked me to do this 🙂  Be sure to check out her blog: Be.Love.Live.

There are rules and they are:

• Post a photo (or photos) and description(s) of your confession(s) in a new post.
• Tweet your post with hashtag #TravelConfession and follow/tweet @Traveling9to5
• Tag 3-5 other travelers you’d love to see confess and tag them on Twitter.

I don’t have a twitter, so I’m going to cheat on these, and just tell them on here!  

So here we go, my travel confessions…

1.  Your travel-isms will change and evolve:

I used to be all about shopping, acquiring souvenirs, getting that perfect picture, seeing a landmark, that’s it.  Now that I’ve got some more travel experience under my belt in many different travel experiences I’ve seen the way I travel, the things that interest me when I travel and the way I communicate with locals and fellow-travelers has changed, and continues to change with every trip…. And guess what?  THAT’S OKAY!   I think that change shows growth in the way you travel, growth in your personal experiences because they’re new and fresh each time you travel.

2.  It’s not all about the checklist…

It’s about the people, the cultures, the experience of being in nature, about learning and growing.  Don’t forget that people with different ideas aren’t wrong-just different, and even if you don’t agree with them, you still learn a different way of looking at things.  Make the most of your trips.  Sure, I go to the major landmarks, but I’m also sure to make a 180 degree turn and get in with the locals.

3.  I’m not meant for solo travel.

I can do it, if I have to and still enjoy myself, but it’s just such a great way to develop relationships, I like having memories with other people and I just have awesome friends and family, why wouldn’t I want to spend time with them?!  Like I said, I can do solo travel, and it does have benefits, but I prefer to travel with one or two people.

4.  I’m cheap…

…. and that’s okay.  I’m not as cheap when I’m traveling, but all my friends and family give me a hard time about it, but I don’t mind because that’s how I get to spend so much time traveling.  I think it’s ok when you’re traveling to ask for student discounts, or group rates if you have a group of friends with you or that you’ve made.  I’m not big on talking street vendors down to nothing, but I think on entrance fees, hotel/hostel rooms, things like that you should ask!

5.  There’s nothing that the road cannot heal.

There’s a song called Moab by Conor Oberst and that’s part of the chorus  “There’s nothing the road cannot heal.”  I 100% believe that.  I get in a car, with the open road, some great music, windows down, and there is nothing that’s going to get me down.  Road trips are such a great joy to me.  I can’t even begin to describe how euphoric that is to me.

6.  Eat local.

This is something I didn’t used to be great at.  Being a budget traveler, I tend to eat some fast food more often than I should, but in the past few years I’ve been getting away from that and enjoying it immensely.  Also, when you’re in a different country or even region the food is different, so experience it.  You might not always love it, but you get a taste for local cuisine.

7.  Take a hike…

I don’t even necessarily mean in the woods, on a trail or anything like that, just walk!  When you’re at a National Park something like that, yes do hike!  However, when you’re in a new city, take some time to explore the place on foot.  Don’t be afraid to get a little lost.  Just take random streets and see what places have to offer you.  Talk to locals, go into little shops and cafes, things you can’t do when you drive right past them.

8.  Do what you love.  

You don’t have to follow the guidebook, people’s opinions/suggestions.  Find what you love and DO IT!

9.  Be respectful.

While you may not have any spiritual connection to places of worship, they are the most important part of other people’s lives- respect that.  Respect culture- look into what actions are seen as inappropriate or disrespectful and don’t do them.  Learn pleasantries in the local language, make an effort.  Treat fellow travelers with respect.  Respect the environment, landmarks, and other sites- be sure they’re around for many other to see and experience.  You’re travel experiences will be so much better if you respect others.

10.  To me, this isn’t a hobby- this is my passion.

I talk a lot about travel with my friends, every post on here is completely travel related and how important it is to me.  I have a passion for learning about religions, cultures, languages, and taking every step I can in my personal life to preserve them.  Diversity is what makes the earth and its people so beautiful.  I want to work in culturally sustainable tourism and am lucky enough to be attending the only university in the world with National Geographic’s Geotourism program, and I believe in this program’s teachings and goals with all my heart.  That’s my biggest travel confession is that travel is my life, and after my family and friends, my number one priority.  It makes me happier than any other experience and I’m just so thankful to have parents that allowed me to experience so many great trips growing up.

Now the fun part, the three bloggers that I want to hear all of their travel confessions:

Little Fingers Life

TravelDestinationBucketList

David Latta