Say Yes!
Do you know the movie Yes Man? Well, try and live a bit like that when you’re traveling. Say yes to crazy adventures and get out of that comfort zone. The first Yes will be when you ask yourself: should I go traveling for a while? YES! Go for it! Just remember the speech that Terrence gives at the end as well. In the beginning, say Yes often to get out of your comfort zone, but after a while, say Yes when you really feel like it (and trust me, you will).
Bunk bed?
I know, I know, when we were young, it was always the coolest to get the top bunk bed, but really: get the bottom bed! It is much more comfortable to have your stuff next to you, rather than having to climb up and down the bed if you just have forgotten your book or torch again.
You can also get a bit more privacy in the bottom bunk, by hanging a sarong or towel along the side where your head is. Just squeeze it in under the top mattress so that is hangs down to next to your pillow. This way you won’t wake up with somebody else’s stinky feet in the proximity of your face, when the foot end of another bed is pushed up against yours. Also some shading from lights being switched on and off during the night. This can happen when somebody gets in a bit later than expected and is not so courteous to leave the light off.
Sleep well
Bring ear plugs and an eye mask to be able to get some good night’s sleep in, even in dormitories and on planes. A blow up neck pillow is useful too, you never know if the place you stay in has too soft pillows and need a little bulk-me-up.
Here’s a little tip for sleeping on a long plane ride, if you feel comfortable with this. When you take some travel sickness tablets with a glass of wine, it make you drowsy enough to doze off. (But please heed any health and safety warnings!)
Electronics
Don’t forget the correct chargers for your electronics and bring converter-plugs for the country you go to. Remember that you may need to convert the voltage too. From 220 to 110 won’t be a problem, things may load just a bit slower, but the other way around can be damaging to your electronics.
Be in the moment, enjoy your travels
While it is great to take a lot of pictures, and selfies as well, make sure you also take in your surroundings without looking through the lens. Try and be in the moment, without thinking where the best picture opportunity would be. Take mental pictures, complete with sight, feelings, sounds and smells (though the last ones may not always be great… 😉 ), to fill that memory bank. But, if you do want some pictures, ask other people to take it, so you’re fully in it as well. And you never know what new travel-conversation you’ll strike up!
Maaike: the funniest thing happened when traveling in Australia. In the center, at King’s Canyon, me and my friends asked some random guy to take our picture. He joked a bit with us, and we got a great photo. A few weeks later, while driving in the outback, we got some car trouble. We flag down the first car that drove past. And guess who was in it? That guy from the picture at King’s Canyon! Traveling truly makes your world smaller!
Live life offline
And speaking of not living through a lens: Try to live offline as much as you can. I know, it’s great to share every moment with your friends and family (and social media followers), but see where you are! Enjoy the moments while traveling, and don’t live in cyberspace the whole time. You can do that when you’re back at home again. Talk to people, smell the breeze, feel the rain, hear the birds, see the world. Put down that phone!
Free guide book info
From Lonely Planet you are able to get parts of their guide books online for free, like the Getting Started chapters. These chapters give you a short introduction of the country, some background information, some highlights and must-see’s and suggested itineraries. It is also possible to just buy parts of their guide books. This can be very useful if you only plan on going to on certain state or area of the country. Or if you want to see it all, don’t know exactly where you want to go yet, or plan on seeing the whole country one day, buy the whole guide book as an e-book. You can store it on your e-reader, tablet or laptop until you actually use it. Other companies will also have their guide books available as an e-book.
Taste your travels
Try new dishes (just mind the spiciness factor in Asia) and don’t run to the nearest well known fast food chain. You are there for the experiences! Savor them!
