I know there are about a ka-jillion blog posts out there called “x travel tips you must follow”, “y things you need to pack” or similar. I have yet to find one that isn’t affiliate marketing…except for mine. My tips are not marketing. Nothing to buy, just some stuff I’ve learned, by trial and error…and serendipity.
A is for Aroma-Therapy...well kind of
The world doesn't always smell too good. Here are some everyday things that I take along that can help with that "I used to be a smoking room" or "I had a long day on someone's feet" aura.
B is for Blending in and Being present
Sometimes youstick out like a sore thumb, whether you want to or not. But if you try to blend in and are fully engaged then people will engage with you.
C is for Crossing streets
Crossing streets is a cultural experience. It is wise to think of it like jump roping: pause and watch to get the rhythm before you jump in.
D is for Decaffeinated Drinks
I always travel with a selection of my favorite decaf drinks. Even if you are way younger than I am sleep is important. I have found that decaffeinated drinks are way less available on the road than they are at home.
E is for Exercise
I am not an athlete, but before and during travel I do a few exercises. This is so I can manage a moderate activity level, my luggage, and any squatty-potties I may encounter without pulled muscles or embarrassment.
F is for Foot-wear and care
If your feet hurt or are cold and wet you will curtail your activities. Take care of your feet and they will carry you far.
G is for Go out, every day
I am an extreme introvert and sometimes I really want to just hibernate. I let myself take it easy but, unless I am ill, I always go out at least once. Here are some simple outings that you can do anywhere, even when you don’t feel up to much.
H is for Hand work
I don't take much interest in factory made souvenirs, but I love to watch people making things by hand. I don't buy much since I like to travel light, but watching and learning doesn't cost anything...or weigh down your suitcase.
I is for Indulge now and then
I tend to be a relatively frugal traveler. My main souvenir from any trip tends to be my photographs and notes to help me remember my experiences. I am not a great purchaser of souvenirs and, mostly, I don’t opt for the most expensive option much of anywhere. However, the point of being in a place is to be there, not to save the most money whilst being there.
J is for Jet lag
I don’t know about you but I have read volumes about jet lag trying to find a magic bullet. The thing is that if you have commitments in your regular time zone there is only so much pre-adjusting you can do. So what I do is plan for it.
K is for Keep your wits about you
Just being aware of your surroundings can make a situation where things can go south not do so. It is all well and good to know the risk, the problem for me is knowing what to do instead, or how to extricate once you realize something is awry.
L is for Language...and communication
A few phrases, spoken properly and well pronounced, will take you a long way, because people will meet you more than halfway when you have taken the trouble.
M is for Markets
One of the great ways to see a place is at markets. They can be supermarkets, little corner convenience stores, street markets, farmers markets…Whatever they are you will get a feel for the place. You will see people interacting and get a chance to do so yourself.
N is for Nutrition
I try to be not picky, and always point out that I did eat a spicy fried cicada one time, just to be polite, it wasn’t that bad. But sometimes you aren’t awake yet and suddenly realize that what you thought was orzo pasta has eyes, and you just aren’t up for the adventure. Here's what I do...
O is for Offer to help
When on the usual tourist trail I often feel like I am not really in the the place. Like I’m in a bubble with a barrier between me and the place.Not being outgoing I am not comfortable striking up a conversation with strangers. One way to engage with people that I am comfortable with is to offer to help them.
P is for Parks
Parks are where the people are. You can tell a lot about a place by its parks and how they are used. When I have time in a city I like to walk through the parks.
Q is for Quiet time
I need quiet time and get overloaded if I don’t make some accommodation for it. Travel inherently involves what the Chinese call 热闹 (re nao in Pinyan). It literally translates as “hot noise”. Some people thrive on it, but it wears me out and can make me irrational if I don’t have a plan for quiet time.
R is for Realistic planning
You can’t see and do everything in a short period of time. My preference is for quality over quantity. Which is fortunate since I am not a high energy particle. Here are some lessons I've learned through travel.
S is for Spiral exploration
The main way that I get to know a new place is to walk. I walk in a spiral pattern, which helps me to not lose track of where I am staying and get a feel for what the surrounding area is like.
T is for Trip Theme
Maybe I’m a nerd…okay, no maybe about it, but I like to learn about stuff, and find it interesting to plan my travel to include some understanding of the geography, natural science, history and culture of the places I visit. A theme gives a trip focus and depth.
U is for Umbrella
These days I nearly always keep a small umbrella with me. They are useful as both sun and rain protection.
V is for Value
Sometimes spending just a little extra gives better value than the cheapest option. It is easy to get overly enthusiastic about optimization, whether it is saving money, weight, suitcase space and so on. But the most important thing is using resources wisely to maximize enjoyment and benefits.
W is for Walking stick
One thing I always bring along when I travel is a walking stick (mine is also a monopod for my camera. It is very useful for things like crossing streams, climbing up and down slopes, area with uneven ground and the sometimes infinite, usually uneven and sometimes very tall stairs at temples and other monuments.
X is for Xenophobe...or Xenophile?
These are two sides of one coin: the idea that the stranger is different and needs to be judged. When we travel, we are ambassadors, not just for our little corner of the world. We are ambassadors for the stranger, for travelers everywhere. That extends to when we return home.
Y is for say "Yes", judiciously
Not everyone is out to get you, and sometimes people really do just want to drink tea and visit, showing off their business, wares, or artwork, or sharing a hobby.
Z is for Ziplocks
In scouts my son’s nickname was “Jimmy Ziplock” because of his packing technique. I find zip lock type bags to be a life saver. I can see what is in them and they can keep liquids from spreading if they escape their bottles.