Home Articles Posted by Izy Berry (Page 111)
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Men’s Packing Lists for Asia
Traveling to a foreign country is challenging, for so many reasons. You’ve got to deal with the culture shock, the inevitable food poisoning, and figuring your way around a new foreign land. This all sounds bad, but it’s really part of the charm of traveling to different countries. One of the hardest things when preparing for a trip overseas is trying to decide what to wear and what to take with you. You want to be cool or warm enough, comfortable enough to not be limited by what you’re wearing and you don’t want to stand out too much. It can be hard figuring this out when you’ve not visited a place yet. My partner and I are planning our own trip to Asia and he’s been asking what kind of things are necessary for men’s packing lists. I figured there might be others out there wondering the same, so here are my key travel essentials if you’re a man:
Photo Credit: Stack of White Polo Shirts by 2Tales on Flickr
1) A Polo Shirt
Polo shirts are a great choice when traveling anywhere as they’re comfortable, lightweight and tidy enough to wear out to dinner. When you go backpacking, you really don’t have that much room in your suitcase spare, so finding clothes items of clothing that you can wear for a variety of occasions can be a life (and space) saver. I suggest buying at least one men’s polo shirt to take with you.
2) A Pair of Shorts
Asia gets hot in the summer, and if you’re visiting then you’ll want to be as cool as possible. Shorts are an obvious choice because you can wear them anywhere and they will take up hardly any space in your backpack. I suggest taking another pair of beach shorts/board shorts to wear as well, that way you’ll have a backup pair in case your standard pair of shorts is lost.
Photo Credit: Socks by bfishadow on Flickr
3) Lots of Pairs of Underwear and Socks
You wont always have access to laundry services everywhere you go and sometimes you want have enough time in one place to be able to get things cleaned in time. That’s why you need to take lots of pairs of socks and underwear. I’d suggest AT LEAST seven of each. The truth is, you’ll lose a few pairs of each during your travels. Maybe the laundry lady will accidentally forget to give you one back, you might unpack your bag and lose a pair of socks. However it happens, you will lose some and unless you are the same size as an Asian man you will find it challenging to find good replacements on the road.
4) A Pair of Long Pants
Some people refuse to go anywhere in the world without a pair of jeans. While jeans are versatile and are great for dressing up at night if you want to go somewhere nice, they’re quire heavy and take up a lot of space. I would suggest taking jeans if you are traveling to colder places as they do a good job of keeping yourself warm, otherwise I would suggest some kind of tidy capri style pants. It’s important to take at least one pair of pants with you, for those nights that are cold or when you’re in areas where you don’t want your legs to be super exposed.
Photo Credit: Flip Flop by Duru… on Flickr
5) A Warm Jersey
Whenever I go to Asia, I almost always forget to take a warm enough jersey. While most of the days during the summer months are super hot, places like northern Vietnam can get really cold, especially if you’re visiting Ha Long Bay and Sapa. Do yourself a favour and bring a comfortable, warm and lightweight jersey. It will be a lifesaver on long bus trips or cold nights.
Aside from these key clothing essentials, I suggested taking two pairs of shoes. One sandal/flip flop style shoes and another pair of shoes for trekking or any adventures like that you intend to do. If you fancy a few good nights out in high class bars, then you should also pack a pair of dress shoes, but this is only worthwhile if you think you’ll use them more than a couple of times.
Those are my key clothing packing tips for men traveling to Asia. Guys, what do you think? Have I missed out anything important?
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25 Things Travel’s Taught Me
After almost three years on the road, I’ve learned a lot and changed a lot. Part of that is simply increasing in age – from 22 to 25 is a big jump in anyone’s life, no matter where they live or what they wind up doing. But a lot of the changes I’ve experienced are from having experiences overseas that wouldn’t have been possible if I’d stayed home. I thought it’d be fun to make a list of all the things travel has taught me – well, at least 25 of them – to share with you all!
1) I feel anxious if I’m too far from the ocean. When I was an au pair in the Czech Republic, I went without seeing the beach for 4 months. It was the longest time in my life, so I booked flights to Barcelona and instantly felt better.
2) Stuff doesn’t make you happy – not the kind of happy where you face hurts from smiling too much. The happiest time I’ve ever experienced is when all I had was my backpack filled with ruined, camera, laptop and a bunch of new friends that I was volunteering with in Cambodia.
3) I’m an expert at falling asleep on buses, trains and planes.
4) Nothing compares to the feeling of discovering your new favourite cafe, shop or friend in a completely new city.
5) You’ll get food poisoning at least once if you visit Asia
6) The people matter more than the places you visit
8) If the price isn’t printed on something, it’s negotiable. The best way to get a better price is to say “oh, so expensive” and pretend to walk off disappointed…
9) If you travel alone, you’ll rarely be lonely.
10) If someone’s speaking to you in English and it’s not their native language, compliment them on it – they’ll love it.
11) People are, at the core, the same. They want to live a good life. They want to provide for their families. They want to have love and happiness in their lives. It doesn’t matter how much money they have, how rich or poor they are, almost everyone wants the same thing.
12) If something goes wrong, laugh. There’s no point getting angry, especially when you throw in some good language barriers. Just laugh. If it doesn’t make anything better, well hey – at least you’re having a good chuckle.
13) It doesn’t matter how much fun your trip is, you’ll miss out on things and it will be hard.
14) If something is too cheap… then it’s probably a scam.
15) Slow down. You don’t always need to rush everywhere. Taking out a day to slowly wander around a new place with no plan or idea of what you’ll find is one of the best medicines for the soul.
16) There’s no where quite as enchanting as Charles’ Bridge in the early morning. Walk over it at least once in your lifetime.
17) Make an effort. Almost everyone wants to be liked, and wants to make new friends – but often people are too scared. Make the effort to have a conversation with someone you see sitting alone in a restaurant, hostel or bus and you might end up with a friend.
18) Time goes differently when you travel long term.
19) Eat where the locals do, you’ll meet locals, get a better feel for the country and you’ll save money.
20) It’s possible to communicate even if there’s no mutual language.
21) If you are open, you will be shown the best that humanity has to offer. I have had so many touching experiences of kindness that I could fill an entire book with them.
22) The problem is, you think you have time
23) There’s never the perfect time for anything, there’s only the time you set aside
24) Durian smells disgusting and so does Paris!
25) Not to sweet the small stuff. That a bus can arrive 3 hours late in Phnom Penh and no one will blink an eye. That you’ll be sold something and it will end up being less than promised. You’ll get ripped off, overcharged, you’ll be under delivered. You’ll fall in love with people you didn’t know existed a week ago and you’ll fall in love with places you can’t properly pronounce. You’ll get homesick, but you’ll return home and will be sick for every place you visited on your adventure.
So tell me, what has travel taught you?
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Packing for a Beach Holiday
In about 5 weeks, I’ll be lounging on the beautiful beach that surrounds Gili T, in Indonesia, with my little sister. I can’t wait, it’s been over two years since I first visited this stunning little island. It also feels like forever since I’ve enjoyed a beach, properly. I am a summer person, through and through, so when winter creeps around I find myself feeling sulky and dreaming of sun drenched islands. I’m really excited about my beach holiday and I’ve already started planning what I’m going to take with me. Here are my essential things that I love to take with me whenever I know I’ll be hitting the beach for a few days:
Sunglasses:
Buying a great pair of sunglasses can be both a fashion accessory and a lifesaver when you’re on the beach. If I spend too long on the beach or outside without sunglasses, I get pretty serious headaches. It scares me to think what kind of long term damage that amount of sunshine is doing to my eyes, so I always pack a pair of sunglasses. It’s also impossible to read books on the beach with the sun so bright, so sunglasses are definitely essential. These days, we’re absolutely spoiled for choice in terms of styles and lens colours, making it easy to find a great pair of glasses that suit look good while providing adequate protection for your eyes.
A Sarong:
Okay, if you’re a guy you can probably skip on this one unless you’re really keen, but sarongs are a great go-to beach accessory for the ladies. Some beaches I’ve been to, especially in Asia, have been quite modest and the locals have worn entire outfits into the water. Out of respect, I like to cover up a little more as walking around in a flimsy bikini feels disrespectful in some places. Sarongs are lightweight, take up barely any space in your bag and you can use them as a makeshift blanket to lie on, or you can tie them around you to cover up a little – perfect!
Sunscreen:
In New Zealand, if you’re on the beach for too long without any sunscreen on, you will burn really badly. Sometimes it feels like you only have to be outside for five minutes before you’ll be burned to a crisp. One upside of growing up somewhere where the sun is so powerful, is that I am very good at applying sunscreen regularly enough to avoid doing long term damage to my skin. Yes, tanning looks nice and brown skin looks beautiful, but for me it is not worth the risk. Sunscreen is SO important, so make sure you take sunscreen with you that has a good SPF factor.
A Ball:
Whether you choose a rugby ball, volley ball or even just an inflatable ball, taking a ball along with you to the beach is a great way to make new friends and make the most of the gorgeous weather. I love laying down with a nice book and soaking up some vitamin D, but it’s also fun being active on the beach and socializing. If you’re traveling far away from home, then taking a volleyball or a rugby ball might not be the most practical thing, but an inflatable ball is lightweight and will take up barely any space in your backpack or suitcase.
These are my favourite things to take along with me for a beach holiday. What do you always bring along to the beach?
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Staying Still for a While
I’ve been at home in New Zealand for six months. For the past 2.5 years, travel has been my biggest priority – I have thrown myself towards that without reserve and I have enjoyed every single adventure of being on. A while ago I wrote about a guy I met who changed everything. He was in my hometown, hadn’t traveled and I found him absolutely captivating. Despite this, I decided to go on to Europe last year and spent two months being an au pair in Spain, before traveling around Morocco, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Turkey and eventually back home. After a little jaunt in Asia, we decided to give things a go and I found myself settling into a “normal life” – even going as far as buying appliances online.
Things have been very different; I’ve been finding it unusual to be in one place for so long, but it’s allowed me an opportunity to enjoy things that I couldn’t do while on the road. I’ve been going to the gym, able to see my little nephew grow from a baby to a thriving and curious one-year old and spent some quality time with friends. I’ve had an opportunity to visit Queenstown and Arrowtown, as well as an opportunity to world on my business. Things have been good, but a part of me has had very, very itchy feet.
In three weeks I’ll be back on the road again, this time with my little sister. It’s going to be both exciting and scary – I’ll be showing her my favourite places, in a hope that she’ll get to understand why travel is so important to me. This trip home is the longest I’ve been in one place in almost three years, and while it’s nice to have a nice apartment to wake up in I am looking for the magic that travel brings.
The number of unknown people you’ll meet on the road, that wouldn’t be possible to meet if you’d stayed at home. The random nights, in random places I’m yet to experience. And of course that feeling when your feet first step off the plane and the air smells different and you know a new adventure is just about to begin. Even though we’re only going for one month, I can’t help but feel giddy about spending my free time exploring everything with a fresh curiosity.
After a while on the road, it’s easy to become jaded. For a temple to just be another temple and museums just start to feel the same, no matter how different they are from the rest you’ve seen. Going with my sister, someone who’s never traveled before, will afford me the luxury of seeing everything through her eyes – for the first time again.
And I can’t wait!
Have you ever stayed still after a long trip, or moved home after living overseas? What did you feel like afterwards?
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Dealing with Money Overseas
When traveling, dealing with money overseas can be one of the most challenging things. If you walk around with large amounts of foreign currency, you can make yourself a target for being robbed. You can also run the risk of simply losing it yourself. However, using your credit card or EFTPOS card from home can be really expensive, with bank fees adding up quickly. Finding a method of overseas payment that works best for you can be a hassle, but there are lots of options available to you. Here are the most popular ways of dealing with money overseas.
Getting a Travel Money Card:
Travel Money Cards have popped up in recent years, becoming the electronic version of traveler’s checks. There are a number of banks and companies that offer them, with a variety of great rates and deals making this an appealing option for those who travel regularly. You can choose to exchange foreign currency in advance and preload it onto your card, which allows you to get a better exchange rate. Often Travel Money Cards do not have large fees for international withdrawals, meaning that you can take smaller amounts of money at a time, which is safer.
Using your Credit Card:
Depending on your relationship with your bank, you can sometimes find good value credit cards that are great for using overseas. This depends heavily on the company and some credit cards might not be accepted overseas, so it pays to book in a meeting with your bank to check. Also, often credit cards do not have as good exchange rates as Travel Money Cards, so this is something you should compare to ensure you are getting a good deal. While might seem like a marginal difference in currency conversion rates can make a considerable difference over the course of your trip, so do your research.
Taking Cash:
Some people like to withdraw all the money for the trip in the foreign currency and take it along with them. Sometimes, banks at home can give you a pretty good rate, especially if you order in advance, which will save you money down the line. Personally, I don’t trust myself with large amounts of cash. I think this option would suit someone who was just going away for a short trip or had exceptional money handling skills.
Withdrawing from International ATMS:
This is the method I’ve used along my travels, just because I haven’t taken the time to look into a Travel Money Card. Over the past two years of travel I probably could have saved a few hundred dollars in ATM fees if I’d opted for a Travel Money Card instead. I love the convenience of using my bank card and I’m lucky enough to have two linked to the same account, so if I was to lose one overseas then I have an easy backup.
How do you deal with money when you are overseas? Do you carry cash, use your bank card or have a specialised Travel Money Card? Let me know in the comments below.
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My Travel Essentials
After so many trips overseas, I’ve got my travel essentials down to the bare essentials and a few creature comforts. As my sister and I are off to Asia in just over three weeks, I’m going through the motions of mentally making sure I have everything I really need. I like to travel light and that means taking only the things that I’ll really use. On my first trip I boarded the plane with lots of useless things that I never bothered to use, leaving things along the way or gifting them to others. Here are my favourite travel essentials:
My iPhone:
I was against buying an iPhone for ages because they’re quite expensive and everyone who owned them seemed to fall immediately in love with them and become almost obsessed. But my camera was stolen when I was in America and I needed an affordable replacement so I bought an iPhone. I find it so useful for using with maps, taking photos, checking emails on the run and so on. I literally could not travel as comfortably without it and suggest that a smartphone is a great idea for anyone who is retarded with maps, like I am. There are heaps of great iphone deals available to help reduce the cost of buying a smartphone, ensuring they are a good investment even for a budget traveler.
Zip Lock Bags:
Whatever brand you choose, buying some clear plastic bags that you can zip closed will make your life a lot easier. This allows you to keep your dirty and clean clothes separate and also allows you to cram more stuff into your bag while you’re away. I have found that the roll and zip method works best, roll your clothes into a cylinder shape and then place them in your ziplock bag to keep them nice and tidy in your suitcase or bag. I always worry that my bags are going to be searched at the airport and I’ll have underwear being flung around, so this method of packing keeps my worries at bay, too!
Carry some PawPaw:
PawPaw is quite a trendy product in New Zealand and Australia, but I haven’t seen it in too many other places around the world. You can use it to do everything – it’s great for chapped lips, any sores or burns, cracked heals, baby rash or any rash in general and the list goes on. Vaseline is a great substitute if you can’t find PawPaw in your country.
Take a good book:
Even though I travel with both a laptop and iPhone, there are times where I’m not near a charging port and everything’s gone flat. There’s nothing quite like peering out the window of a train, plane or even bus while in the middle of a great book. I also love taking books to swap with people or in book exchanges in hostels during my travels. If you’re traveling with friends and you each take a book, then you can swap when you’re both finished, doubling your reading library on the road.
Everyone has different travel essentials. What items do you have to carry with you whenever you travel? Leave your top picks in the comments below.
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Tips for Enjoying the Canary Islands
The Canary islands are a perfect island escape if you’re looking for some sun, water sports, museums or beaches. Many people flock here each year, whether in winter or summer, to soak up the sunshine and enjoy the relaxing lifestyle while lounging in gorgeous Villas in Spain. British people made their way to the Canary Islands over 100 years ago and haven’t stopped coming since – it is really a great place to enjoy your holiday, jam packed with lots of history and some irresistible beaches. To make the most of your visit to the Canary islands, check out these tips:
1) Book a Villa
Choosing to book Villas in Spain as your accommodation is a great way to bring the whole family along as you’ll have everything you need to make the most of your holiday, including enough space for everyone to have their own privacy. Villas tend to be a lot more spacious than hotel suites or motels, and feature kitchens so you can cook your own food and save money. You can even choose to go away with some extended family members or friends and split the rental cost of the villa, to make your holiday more affordable. It pays to book in advance, so if you’re planning a trip to the Canary Islands or Spain in general, book your villas in Spain with Villas4You now to secure a better deal.
2) Check out the nightlife
While Ibiza is often thought of as the main party island in Spain, the truth is that Spaniards love to party – so you’ll find a number of great hotspots for partying in the Canary Islands. Lanzarote, for one, has a great nightlife that is centred around the main resorts: Costa Teguise, Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Arrecife. Tenerife also boasts some great nightlife if you’re looking to party right into the early hours of the morning.
3) Head to the beach
The beaches in the Canary Islands are some of the best in the world. Costa Blanca boosts beautiful white sand and bright turquoise waters, while Puerto de la Cruz has fine black sand, due to the volcanic nature of Tenerife. There’s a great variety across the beaches, and the popularity of the Canary Islands has also driven some man made beaches to be created. This means that you can lounge on bright, golden sands and enjoy the forever summer environment of the Canary Islands all year around.
4) Boat Trips
Which ever island you choose as your base, the other islands are just a short boat or ferry trip away, allowing you to easily visit the other islands. Because of the considerably varied landscape, traveling across the islands provides a really unique holiday. Boat trips don’t have to be just a means of transport, either, you can turn them into full on day trips in themselves, with guided fishing tours available across most of the islands.
5) Check out some of the attractions
Despite being well known for the beaches they have, the Canary Islands has a lot more to offer than just warm temperatures and pretty beaches. You can enjoy a variety of attractions, from museums and historic cathedrals – through to even an interesting parrot park that is littered in parrots. There’s also a great aquarium, which is perfect for the whole family to enjoy. Tenerife is home to one of the most stunning buildings on the island, the Tenerife Auditorium that was designed by Santiago Calatrava and showcases traditional Spanish architecture.
These are my top tips for making the most of the Canary Islands. Have you ever visited? Is there anything special I’ve left off my list? Share in the comments below.
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Top 4 Beaches in Spain
Picture this; you’re staying in traditional Spain Villas, nestled close to the beach. There’s beautiful food at your doorstep, whether you want to indulge in paella, pintxos, or even a glass of tinto de verano. You can spend your vacation enjoying some of the finest beaches in the world, while breaking your day up with a siesta and later enjoying a fiesta. That’s Spain in summer in a nutshell (and even parts of Spain in winter). If this sounds like your kind of holiday, then you might want to check out the following top 4 beaches in Spain. Once you’ve booked your Spain Villas for your trip, you can then make the most of the golden sand, delicious food and the relaxing lifestyle the Spanish are well known for.
1) San Sebastian
San Sebastian is one of my favourite beaches in all of the world, let alone Spain. It’s a great holiday destination, even if you ignore the beach – which is pretty hard because the city is spread around it. Here you’ll find some of the best food in the world – and in all of Spain, called Pintxos. Pintxos are small portions of delicately designed dishes that will woo your taste buds. You move from restaurant to restaurant, seeking out restaurant specialties before moving on to try something else. It’s a very social and fun way of enjoying new things. The beach in San Sebastian is literally a few meters from the city centre and is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It’s easy to spend a few lazy days here, soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the Basque region.
2) Costa Blanca
Literally translated as “White coast” this part of Spain is prized for it’s bright turquoise waters, the irresistibly white sandy beaches and exciting nightlife – it is a perfect mix of everything you would want for a great holiday escape away. This is a great place for younger travellers who might want to party a little – or families who are keen to soak up some serious sunshine and relax, making it a very versatile place to visit. This is also a great part of Spain to do water sports… if you’re so daring.
3) The Canary Islands
As if Spain wasn’t tempting enough as a holiday destination, the Canary Islands boast beautiful sunshine year-round. So while others are suffering a dismal winter, you can plan a quick escape to the Canary Islands and enjoy their everlasting sunshine. These islands are regarded as the perfect family escape, proving to be a nice relaxing break from the day to day hustle and bustle of modern life.
4) Ibiza
If you’re young and want to party, there’s really no where else in the world that tops Ibiza. You can literally crawl from the beach into a nightclub at any hour of the night – or day, and you’ll find yourself thoroughly entertained. Top DJs headline the clubs in Ibiza throughout the year and there are a number of different beaches around the island depending on whether you want to party hardcore or are here to enjoy a bit of a mix between relaxing and partying. Book into one of the many luxurious Spain Villas so that you can get adequate sleep in between dancing the night away.
Spain is a great place to plan a holiday, especially if you’re a beach bum like me. Regardless of whether you’re traveling as a couple, with a family, as a group of friends or solo, there’s somewhere in Spain to suit every style of traveler and every budget.
Have you been to any Spanish beaches? Which were your favourites?
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Top Toronto Picks
Visiting the largest city in Canada can be an expensive trip. There are so many things to see and do, but most of them come with a hefty price. If you can save on your flight with cheap companies like Air Transat and find an affordable accommodation, you’ll be able to indulge guilt-free in all the activities you want. Here are my top picks of things to do in Toronto.
Niagara Falls
It’s an obvious, but unavoidable sight to see. Swarmed with tourists, getting splashed by the Niagara Falls is a breathtaking moment that you won’t soon forget. Watching more than six million cubic feet of water fall over the crest line every minute in high flow is spectacular. With a variety of packages and viewpoints, you can choose the one that is most convenient for your situation. From a journey behind the falls to a boat ride or observing them from afar, they are a must-see!
Canada’s Wonderland
To satisfy the little kid in your heart, you can go visit Canada’s Wonderland, the first and largest theme park in Canada. With over 60 rides to enjoy, you are guaranteed a great day filled with fun at this amusement park. You can even ride Canada’s largest roller coaster, the Leviathan. Here is a video of what it feels like to be in the first row on this adventurous ride.
There are also special events and live entertainment depending on when you plan your visit.
CN Tower
Another popular attraction that is not to be missed is the CN Tower. It is Toronto’s trademark and main place to visit. Riding in the glass elevators to the top is going to offer a whole different view of Toronto. Enjoying a decadent meal at the revolving 360° restaurant could make for a fantastic dinner and a memorable night. If you’re the adventurous kind, they offer edgewalking. EdgeWalk is basically walking hands free around the top of the tower while attached to an overhead safety rail via a trolley and harness system. Leaning back will give you an incredible rush and remarkable view of the city.
Distillery District
Once you are done hitting up the major sights to see, it’s time for a break. One of the areas that is in downtown Toronto and that could give you a rest from the typical tourist activities is the Distillery District. It is a pedestrian only zone and consists of a variety of unique boutiques, galleries, cafes, shops and renowned restaurants. The District describes itself as an area with a relaxing European atmosphere with a cool New York City vibe. It is a great place to relax, shop, eat and take in some history about Toronto.
Toronto is a fun and vibrant city, with events happening year-round. Make sure that you do as much as you can and take in all that it has to offer. Also, Canadians are some of the friendliest people that you will meet and it will help make your visit that much more memorable. Happy visiting!
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Revisiting Places
During my travels I’ve been to a lot of places I’ve really loved – and a few places I really didn’t like, such as Paris and Laos.
When I find somewhere I love, I seem to revisit the place, hoping to capture the same experiences and feelings I had the first time I visited.
I’ve learned that most of the time it’s not possible.
On my upcoming trip with my sister, I decided not to go anywhere new. This is for a few reasons: I’ll have to keep “working” while I’m away, earning an income to pay for my travels and my bills back here in New Zealand. If I was venturing to new places, I’d want to spend each second out exploring and I know I’d get absolutely nothing done in terms of work. Secondly, I’m traveling with my little sister. She’s very independent, but she’s still 7 years younger than me and I am a little protective, so I want to go to places I feel comfortable and that I feel comfortable with her exploring by herself.
So I’ve chosen a great mix of countries: Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore and Australia. Quite a lot for our month’s trip.
After so much solo travel (which I love), I’m ready to share some of my favourite places with one of my favourite people.
I’m looking forward to sharing the magic of volunteering overseas with her. The vibrant green rice paddy fields of Ubud.
The never ending malls of Singapore.
The view of the Petone towers at night while sipping on cocktails in Skybar.
Whether you are traveling to Australia or from Singapore to Malaysia, there is always a new adventure just around the corner. Staying all over the globe has helped me to narrow down some of the best places I have visited. Staying in unique Kuala Lumpur hotels was a great experience and taught me a lot about Asian architecture. The buildings in Malaysia are tall and creatively designed, adding a modern feel to the city. Visiting Singapore changed my whole outlook on Asian cuisine while Australia made me realize how much I love being outside and enjoying the weather.
I’ll get to share with her, little by little, the places that have shaped me and my perceptions of the world.
For some of these places it is my second time visiting, others my third, fourth – even fifth time.
I seem to keep revisiting the places I love, rather than venturing out and exploring new ones. One thing I’ve learned, however, is that a place is never really the same the second time you visit it. The weather’s not as great, the party scene isn’t the same, or it’s gone out of control – it was probably a lot less touristy the last time you were here, you must have visited just before it got too over ridden with tourists…
It’s never the same. And I think that’s partially because you rarely get to revisit the same places with the same people you originally met or visited there.
After years of travel I’ve come to learn that the people are often more important than the specific place you are in. That’s why I randomly decided to follow two crazy Europeans on a whirlwind tour of Asia, even though we were re-visiting places I’d already been and their fast-pace movement was expensive, in terms of extra flights. Because the people are more important than the places.
How lucky am I to be taking one of my favourite people, to some of my favourite places? As we start filling in the connecting flights and budgeting in how our days will most be likely spent, I can’t help feel really excited for what’s to come.
Have you ever found yourself in places you’ve revisited, feeling disappointed or surprised because it’s changed so much or just doesn’t seem as great because your favourite travel buddies aren’t there?
