Sometimes people asked me how I became a traveler. It started with a college sponsored Biology related trip to Costa Rica. This was my first time outside of the United States and everything was a new experience for me. Starting with the language. Then the food. Jungle – warm ocean water? I had never experienced that before in my life. Meeting new friends. The constant sensory input. I was hooked!
Sometimes one has to get over the fear of traveling to new places – the world seems so big when in reality most everything is several plane rides away at most. Cultures are different. So is religion. And food. And landscape.
Start with curiosity.
Take a few trips in your own country – explore regions that you have never visited. Then take your trips further abroad – research destinations that perhaps speak the same language as you.
Plan your first few nights accommodation – make reservations and have a general outline of what you would like to see to start your trip. Let part of your trip unfold naturally without any set plans. See what you prefer.
Ask yourself a few basic questions when planning a trip. Do you like adventure? Are you on a tight budget? Do you prefer cities or the natural world? And then based on the answers to these questions, gear your trip accordingly.
If you are a wanderluster at heart, you’ll always find your hitting the road to your next destination
Thanks Teh – travel has become an obsession for me!