When travelling, I feel that the company (or lack thereof), can make or break your travels. Some people prefer travelling alone as that gives you the benefits of being able to do anything YOU want to do, and the freedom to meet as many people as you like.
Everyone travels differently - my favourite travel companion (and bestfriend) and I share the same sentiment as to what our money should be spent on. Spending very little on cheap (but clean) hostels allows us to splurge on good local food, excursions, and activities or cultural shows that cost a substantial amount (eg. a flight over the Nazca Lines set us back 85 dollars but to us it was very, very worth it!) However I know some people who would rather spend their money on nice hotels, or buy food from grocery stores instead, or just wander the streets without doing anything touristy, or just spend all day at the beach sunbathing- all of which are fine by me, but only in small doses. Throughout three years of travelling with friends I’ve noticed one key fact- How well you get along back home is not always a fair indication of how you’d get along when travelling! Which of these travel types are you?
1. The Navigator
The one who holds the map and makes sure you don’t get lost! An absolute essential during any trip or you will find yourself lost fairly often. The Navigator may enjoy finding things on the map but be warned, confidence may not necessarily translate to being correct!
2. The Planner
The Planner and the Navigator are at times the same person, but this is not always the case. The Planner does the research, books the hostels, finds out where to eat- I have even heard of a friend who made an hour-by-hour itinerary starting from 8AM up til midnight with no possibility of deviating from the schedule. The Planner is useful if you are the type who likes not having to do any work, but if you’re more of a relaxed traveller, you would probably not be travel compatible!
3. The Kerfaffler
This traveller comes in many forms. It is the girl that takes an hour to do her hair and make-up, the one who wanders round the hostel getting ready for a shower but somehow does everything other than actually showering, the one who leaves the hostel in the morning and has to return because they forgot something, then spends an additional twenty minutes in the hostel on Wifi - Basically, the Kerfaffler kerfaffles a lot - and makes everybody WAIT.
4. The Excitable Photographer
This person will stop at every street sign, blooming flower, drain, or person shining someone’s shoes to take a photo. (I confess- I do this!)
5. The Tourist
This person will take photos of everything with a massive smile on their face and a total lack of decency - including the torture cells of Auschwitz, a cemetery, a statue of Jesus dying on the cross…
6. The Ignoramus
This person is the one who doesn’t know anything. Has done no research on where you’re actually going, makes no effort to help with any planning or navigating, doesn’t even know the name of the hostel you’re staying at- Handy if you like to lead, but potentially very annoying if you don’t like doing everything!
7. The Lazy Bum
The Lazy Bum would rather not do a lot of walking- or anything too strenuous. Ever.
8. The Horny Tourist
This is the boy (possibly girl?) who goes on holiday to pull/sex as many locals/fellow tourists/hostel buddies as possible. Usually travels in big groups!
9. The Cultured One
This is the person who tries to learns the language fairly quickly, loves having long chats with locals and assimilating themselves into the culture!
10. The Social Butterfly
They will talk to anyone; a waitress, person waiting at the bus stop, the guard checking your ticket at an attraction - great company for when you want to meet new people but are too shy to make the first move!
I think every person can be varying levels of pretty much any type on any trip, depending on how you feel at that point! The bottom line is- if you want to travel with someone, think carefully how you each travel to make sure you are travel compatible! And be prepared for surprises coz everybody’s true self only comes out when travelling!
x
The saddestsaddestsaddestsaddest thing about growing up is to see people whom you were once unbelievably close to, drift away (and if we were once close, even if I don’t say it because I’m scared its a one-way thing, I miss your company).
It is also sadsadsadsad when you live abroad and know that you will not be permanently home for a loooooooong time still (at this point in time, still five years to go). Worse still is the knowledge that, given the choice, someday in the future you may well choose to live somewhere that isn’t home.
So three days ago, I finished the last exam of my first degree. After a year of struggling and working out that I am really bad at Science/analytical thinking/making a Grant Proposal/anything that doesn’t involve being spoonfed, I have FINALLY finished my degree. Now my summer has begun and I leave for Peru in three days! Super crazy preparations though. Unlike last year, when we went to Ghana with a medical agency and had our acommodation sorted for a whole month, I will be travelling independently somewhere really, really far away. It will also be the first time I’m properly backpacking- I’ve always been a pseudo-backpacker (dragging a bright red suitcase!), but traipsing around the mountainous regions of Peru with a suitcase probably wouldn’t be the best idea. I’ve also had to buy my first windbreaker, first fleece jacket, first time wearing sneakers while travelling, and am bringing a wardrobe of baggy trousers, baggy shirts, and a sleeping bag - I’m so excited to be roughing it out proper backpacker style!
One of the ways I console myself when not travelling is by reading travel blogs- its incredible how many people choose to leave their comfy life behind and travel the world, and I’ve met numerous people who are doing exactly that. Below is an excerpt of an interview of a lawyer-turned-photographer who is road-tripping the Americas (he’s been on the road for four years!) who is giving advice to professionals who want to do something similar:
“Generally in our society in the US, we are conditioned or expected to lead a certain type of life—get an education, have a career, get married, buy a house, buy cars, have kids and, if you’re lucky, a summer house and nice vacations. This never ending rat race of having more and one upping the neighbors rarely leads to peace and happiness by itself. At best, one sets off in this direction saying I’ll live my bucket list when I retire. But what if that time never comes? Life is meant to be lived, so live it no matter what definition of life you subscribe to. That definition might be the scenario set out above, and that’s fine (someone has to do it). Whatever path you choose, walk it without regrets. For me, I knew a fulfilling life needed to incorporate exploring the world. That said, I came to this realization at a stage in life when it was still easy enough to make the changes that I wanted. No kids. No mortgage. No car payments. Many professionals come to the realization that they MUST make a change of life after these commitments exist and that makes things much trickier. But most life decisions are not easy and they all require sacrifices. It sounds trite, but you have to follow your heart and live your dreams. You might have to give up the BMW, the summer house and some of those fancy dinners, but if the payoff is worth it to you than those are small price tags. If you don’t have those things to begin with (like me), then the change from lawyer to happy pauper-hood is that much easier. Who knows? If you’re lucky you might not need to give those things up in order to be happy. I needed to sacrifice those things and I’m happier for it.”
The full interview can be found here.
I find people like him really inspirational and it gives me hope that one day I will also be able to lead a nomadic, Doctor-in-developing-nations lifestyle! This trip I will also attempt to document things that I see, eat and experience not only through photos but through writing! So maybe one day I’ll share some of the next three weeks. Til then, have a fantabulous summer everyone!!
xx
365q:
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So damn gorgeous.
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While on holiday with Nadia in Andalusia, Espanol!
I am seeing someone who is presenting his own research to Princess Anne (yes, THE Princess Anne) today. He is the most ladish smart boy I know and he’s helping me through the struggle that is my Physiology degree (which is literally the hardest thing I’ve ever done)- HE MAKES ME SO HAPPY!
He would kill me if he finds out I wrote this on a public domain, hehe!
Finished my research presentation today and am taking the day off before I continue my mugging for my dissertation! Hope everyone is well! x
Your fears erased here daily
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Real life photoshop.
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