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Mar. 17th, 2011
Travelling Philosophy
Mar. 17th, 2011 12:19 pmI'm planning various travel things at the moment (I do love planning trips! So much fun, so much potential, so much satisfaction in discovering things like railfare from Harlow to Aberystwyth being seventy quid usually but with gusts down to sixteen!), and it got me thinking.
Em's Philosophy of Going Places
1. Go for the cheapest accomodation which meets your needs (my needs, fortunately, are few). Nobody ever comes home from a good trip where the highlight was the hotel room, unless they're staying at a themed Vegas hotel.
2. Travelling alone is awesome. Meeting friends along the way is wonderful. Making friends along the way is inevitable.
3. You don't need to be fluent in the language if you can point at things. But for goodness' sake, make sure you're pointing with the culturally-appropriate finger or fingers, and at least learn how to say hello, please, and thank you. Courtesy is a universal virtue.
4. Touristy things can be really fun, even if the locals think they're cheesy.
5. Touristy things can also be genuinely cheesy. Ex: Wensleydale dairy museum. Wahey!
6. Travel by train when possible. Go for the window seat.
7. Have a good book on hand.
8. Have a camera accessible, but use your own eyes the bulk of the time.
9. Listen.
10. A good backpack has wide straps and lots of pockets for spare socks (you do have spare socks, right?).
11. WEAR GOOD SHOES.
12. Everything should fit in one suitcase, which you're able to lift up stairs.
That's pretty much it. It's not complicated. I think people have a tendency to try to plan the perfect trip, and that's really not necessary. If you're cheerful, excited, and interested, perfection happens.
Em's Philosophy of Going Places
1. Go for the cheapest accomodation which meets your needs (my needs, fortunately, are few). Nobody ever comes home from a good trip where the highlight was the hotel room, unless they're staying at a themed Vegas hotel.
2. Travelling alone is awesome. Meeting friends along the way is wonderful. Making friends along the way is inevitable.
3. You don't need to be fluent in the language if you can point at things. But for goodness' sake, make sure you're pointing with the culturally-appropriate finger or fingers, and at least learn how to say hello, please, and thank you. Courtesy is a universal virtue.
4. Touristy things can be really fun, even if the locals think they're cheesy.
5. Touristy things can also be genuinely cheesy. Ex: Wensleydale dairy museum. Wahey!
6. Travel by train when possible. Go for the window seat.
7. Have a good book on hand.
8. Have a camera accessible, but use your own eyes the bulk of the time.
9. Listen.
10. A good backpack has wide straps and lots of pockets for spare socks (you do have spare socks, right?).
11. WEAR GOOD SHOES.
12. Everything should fit in one suitcase, which you're able to lift up stairs.
That's pretty much it. It's not complicated. I think people have a tendency to try to plan the perfect trip, and that's really not necessary. If you're cheerful, excited, and interested, perfection happens.
(no subject)
Mar. 17th, 2011 02:36 pmI told myself I wouldn't make a Saint Patrick's Day post (I'm English and Scottish in background, not Irish!), but this is too beautiful not to post.