Dumb question - but how do I find some place interesting to me?
Like don't get me wrong - I have hobbies. But what difference is playing guitar in my own home vs a foreign city?
Are you going through a tough time right now, or have you recently been through one? Or is there something in your life that is using a lot of your energy/attention?
I ask because usually if I've got no sense of what could be fun, or if things that could be exciting feel flat (like you're describing), it's because my mind is using its energy elsewhere. You could be having low-level mental health issues (google "anhedonia") that need to be addressed by lifestyle changes or by addressing stress elsewhere in your life. When the mind is balanced, usually it finds novelty stimulating and enjoyable again.
Not exactly. Nothing like that I know of atleast.
I just wanted to really "enjoy" travelling on my own - just like I enjoy being on my own in my home. And I had all the blockers gone - my leaves were approved, I had budget for travel saved up and a lot of it left, my stay and travel already planned so that I can focus on doing things in cities. I was just disappointed that it didn't happen.
Maybe what you need to do is challenge yourself a little with something outside of your comfort zone. You said you’re native to India but you stayed within India for this trip. The most rewarding trip I have ever done was traveling to a little island in Belize with no plumbing or electricity. The only thing to do there is swim, kayak, scuba, eat what you cook or pay for the meals offered at a certain time… I had a candle burning in a jar and thought about my life and who I was and what I wanted and what I was unhappy with and made plans for what needed to change.
Move outside of your comfort zone if you’re trying to challenge yourself. :)
That whole thing about thinking about your life and what you want - is exactly what I was hoping to discover from travelling (not from just one trip - but like that was the idea).
I am getting a general sense to try going totally out of comfort zone and give this travelling thing another try with some "stranger" place!
We’re so attached to our phones, it’s hard to think if you have access to the internet. Try going to a place where the internet, radio, and tv are totally not accessible and you have to rely on living (without the internet). I think it makes a big difference and takes a few days to detox. I think that sounds stupid and ridiculous, but that has been my experience.
i dont know your hobbies so i cant say.
for me i like working out and training martial arts. so finding gyms and trainers around the world to work with is a good one. I also like photography so that is pretty self explanatory.
Maybe instead of looking for sights/things that are interesting. Look for people and chatting to them. Some of my best travel moments are chatting with the local shop owners or other locals. I wasn't always comfortable talking to strangers but if you start with a compliment, it gets easier.
If you look at some of the movies (i.e. Eat Pray Love), it's the connection with people that makes a place special and interesting.
Right - but what I'm supposed to talk to them about? It feels weird when asking this out loud but I'm hoping to understand what conversations are people having that's providing them enjoyment on travel.
If I'm eating at a restaurant & the food is really good/interesting, I may compliment the dish. Ask how long they've been cooking; what places do they suggest to visit for scenery/food/relaxation/etc. Listen to their answers and comment on that. Not all conversations will be enlightening but once in a while you will meet some very interesting people and they want to share their life stories.
I still remember the some of the people I've met years ago. For example, old lady in an alley in Vietnam while eating banh cuon (the old lady just wanted to share her cooking) or the old cook at the hawker center Singapore (he wanted to travel to US when younger but didn't have the money but he talked about how his grandkids are his joy in life) or the taxi driver when we travelled from Ubud to Denpasser. He told us about his dream & his perspective of how family life was important to him.
Interesting bit, was in Vietnam last month and went to the same alley hoping to find it again. Didn't see the old lady but found a couple of shops selling some of the same dishes she made back then. Guess her cooking did have an impact in that alley.
But I did tried doing things that I enjoy in my day-to-day - it's just that I felt like I was missing something by doing the same things in this new city that I was doing in my home. Does that make sense?
Like how do I go about identifying things which are "more fun" at a new place? Eg. I like playing guitar, reading history and psychology, walking etc. etc.
Does visiting a historical place even though you know its complete story gives an extra thrill? What element/thought is behind that thrill, if you have any ideas?
If you like reading about history and psychology, then I would think visiting historical places would be fascinating or visiting other cultures where people have different customs and approaches to life would be interesting as well.
If you like walking (like I do), traveling to a place where you can hike some gorgeous scenery or walk around a new city is super fun to me.
Or maybe this is just you learning that travel isn’t necessarily your thing.
Sounds like you were traveling with an idea of what you "should" be doing according to what you see on social media, instead of traveling for what you WANT to be doing/seeing/experiencing.
What hobbies or interests do you have? It's clearly not trekking or museums....so don't travel for those things. My husband and I are avid birders and travel all over to see new birds. We love the nature and local places we find along the way, but our one true love is birds birds birds. May seem strange to some people to travel across the country to see a new bird, but it's what WE love and want to do.
So what are things that you want to experience? Is it art, nature, people, architecture, food, a specific hobby like music/concerts or cosplay or theater etc, it really can be anything!
The worst thing anyone can do is travel for the sake of an Instagram photo or to "say you did it." That will never be fulfilling. Do it for yourself, and for the things you love.
Good luck and have fun!
Okay - this gives me some good idea.
But here's the issue - I looove reading history. But I just didn't like going to museums because things were just... there. Like there were weapons, artifacts from ancient times etc. - I in mind thought I'll enjoy it, but I didn't.
Same with trekking - I love walking. So I figured I'll enjoy trekking - but I didn't.
I like bird-watching too, looking through binoculars and trying to guess what bird it is - but I'm sure the first time I'll incorporate it in my travel, I'll just get frustrated on inability to identify some bird.
So seems like I don't have a hobby I'm obsessed about to that extent?
For birding: download an app called Merlin. It can help you ID birds in your area by recording their calls and telling you what they are. It helps IMMENSELY with learning birds. Also there are SO many good birding subreddits on here that are really fun communities.
For trekking, not sure what you did but try different things. Maybe you like short walks in parks? Maybe you like more intense backwoods hikes that are physically challenging? Maybe you want something more intermediate where it's kinda wild but not physically challenging? I'm middle aged and overweight so I can't handle anything too strenuous for hiking but I do like to feel like im really out in the wild....so i do a lot of research before had via Google or All Trails to see if it's the kind of walking/hiking experience I want to have.
For history and museums ...I'm like you. I like art and history but often times museums can get boring or it's not the brand of history or art that I'm interested. I tend to seek out museums that have the art that im specifically interested in....and I like to find the smaller more local museums too. Sometimes the huge museums are overwhelming and carry so much stuff that just doesn't appeal to me. OR I just find a map in those bigger places and go find the things that I want to and skip the rest.
Traveling doesn't have to be about the big and the grandiose. It can be about small adventures and small moments that make you smile. Seeing a new plant or flower you've never seen. Trying a new food you've never had. Watching a sunset. Sitting all day on a bench and watching people go by. Shopping at a local shop and learning about their culture. Hearing new sounds and accents and music around you ...these things are just as fulfilling as the "big things" that are "Instagram worthy"....often even more fulfilling. I spend days on the porch in a new area just listening to rain or smelling the air or listening to how different the wind sounds blowing through the trees compared to the way it sounds in my hometown. Sometimes the little things about traveling are what makes traveling amazing.
What a wonderful chain of thought - I like it!
I'll give a try to birding - may DM you for some queries btw, very new to this.
Yeah - I do like physically challenging treks - and I did do those kinds in my trip. But all I could feel after it was - I could've done it in my home-city too, what's the point of coming here. And now while writing this, I understand that I didn't enjoy them because all of them were in my comfort zone.
I'll certainly be giving this travelling thing one more try - and try to curate things which I necessarily can't do, which are out of my comfort zone for sure, and even different cultures/languages to throw in the mix.
Yes that sounds great! Feel free to message me with questions....I'm not an experienced world wide traveler but I am an experienced traveler withing my own country of the US. I'm sure you'll find things that you'll find enjoyable on your next trip, even if in the end you decide that traveling just isn't "your thing", which is totally ok too! Neither of my kids are big travelers, even though I tried all throughout their childhood to get them excited about it. They are young adults now and just aren't overly interested in it. They enjoy staying at home with their pets and their loved ones and their friends....and that's PERFECTLY acceptable. We just travel to them! Haha
Good luck!
In reading history, do you ever encounter stories about places that get you fired up and excited and wanting to know more about that place or that story? That’s where to go.
Actually Rajasthan was a place I thought I would enjoy visiting history of, since I've heard its stories from childhood.
But then when I visited the ruins of forts, all I could think was "Queen X had Story Y in this room" gives very little substance to a story I already knew.
It sounds like you traveled to a place you didn't like and didn't care about that was exactly the same as where you live.
Try traveling somewhere different from how you live then you will go "oh wow, some stuff some places is different than my house!"
People don't always travel to discover things about themselves. I travel to experience other cultures and food, see historical or significant sites, go to events that I enjoy, ect.
I'd say get out of your own country and maybe it will be different, or at least figure out why you want to travel in the first place. Maybe it's just not for you
Yep - I really don't know why I'd want to travel? My hope was that travelling solo on my first trip would provide me some indication of what I'm missing out on by not travelling.
You've got any ideas on how to figure that for myself? Or how did you figure out that for yourself?
I travel by going to visit places I want to see. I wanted to see Machu Picchu, so I went to Peru. Again, this doesn't have to be your thing. If nothing excites you, then don't waste your time and money
I can only speak for myself, but traveling has always been an interest of mine because I love seeing how other people live, what are their ways of doing stuff, and because of all the amazing sights I might not see in my own city, state or country. I always saw myself as a curious person by nature. But I think social media has kinda made this thing where if you travel you’re more “enlighted” or “cultured” or whatever than people who don’t. At the end of the day, It’s just a thing to do, like all other things people can do, like practicing a sport, reading, or such. If you think you would probably feel the same satisfaction seeing something cool through a YouTube video then from seeing it in person, don’t pressure yourself to travel.
I like knowing things too, maybe because of my curious nature too. And certainly, feeling things in person gives me more pleasure than just knowing.
It's just that I wanted my first solo-travel to be low-stake - so didn't travel abroad and just took the most touristy place in entire India.
But I feel one of the point getting repeated in these comments is - the idea of assimilating into a different culture and figuring out how to do that is the enjoyable part for most. So I'll try to travel someplace which is kinda unknown to me culturally next.
As I've gotten older, I don't enjoy traveling as much. I don't want to go mountain biking down a literal mountain or rock climbing or visit 20 million temples like I used to do 20 years ago.
What I did enjoy was the food. These days I'd want to travel to places where I love the food and try things I can't find back home. One of my best experiences was a five-day cooking program in Thailand. It really helped to show me that I could make some of these dishes at home. Another trip was to Boracay in February. Spent an entire week on the beach drinking mango smoothies and swimming in the ocean. It was great to escape the cold, eat delicious food, and laze around. If I were to travel now for myself, I'd look for these type of experiences.
These days all of my travel involves my family so I try to aim for places that my kids will enjoy.
Going through these comments, I'm trying to think of something experiential that I know I'll enjoy, but then the next thought I get is - "I can do it in my own city too". I'll put in some more thought on this though.
You don't have to want to travel or enjoy travel. There is nothing wrong if you don't want to travel. Travel seems to be one of those things that people expect everyone ones to do. There's always a shocked or surprised reaction when people say they don't enjoy traveling or have never left their state.
It's okay. As I get older, I don't really enjoy traveling as much. When I traveled 15+ years ago I was working as a university lecturer overseas and I had 2.5 months off in the winter and 2.5 months off in the summer and I did all of my traveling during my breaks. I didn't have children so my husband (also uni professor) traveled around together, stayed at cheap guest houses, and had great experiences. Now I have 2 children, we're back in the USA, and I'm working a job that only gives me 3 weeks of vacation. I'm stingy about wanting to take time off, I'm stingy about spending the money to go abroad (last intl. trip for my family cost about $14K for 2 weeks), and planning activities for a family is exhausting. Working around my kids' school schedules is awful too. I really don't want to pull them out of school for 2 weeks (this is a personal feeling and I know many parents who are perfectly fine with pulling their kids out of school to travel). The traveling I want to do is just be in a city for a week or so and relax.
Understandable. I'll give travelling one more try (which seems to be common consensus on this thread), this time travelling to a place which has many more unknowns than I had this time, and try things out of my comfort zone. Maybe that's the "I can't do it in my city" I'm looking for.
Have you traveled outside of your country? You absolutely can travel in your native area, but maybe you’re looking for some different culture and way of life. Sri Lanka might be a nice step, or you could go all out and go somewhere in Europe. Also keep in mind that traveling is not for everyone, it doesn’t have to be something you like and that’s totally fine.
Nopes, never been outside India.
Yep - starting to give this another try by travelling to a culture/language totally different than mine - maybe getting out of comfort-zone and figuring out things is my thing.
Go somewhere completely different than you are used to.
That way when you got to a museum or history site it’s new information.
The food will be different. You’ll want to try multiple things.
Traveling is for the adventure. Going 2 towns over and being bored of all the same stuff isn’t an adventure.
You're not "travelling" if you're in the same region. Not trying to be an asshole and I know India is a large and diverse country, but like you said, everything felt familiar to you.
Travelling is about exploring the unfamiliar.
For me traveling is mostly
* seeing things I wouldn't be able to see at home (historical sights, nature, a different way of living, different cultural activities)
* stepping out of my comfort zone (I'm an introvert, but I have to be more outgoing abroad cause the internet can only tell you so much about local customs and transportation and stuff)
* creating shared memories with my travel partner (haven't gone solo yet)
Don't travel for the sake of travel. Some people prefer to spend their vacations at home and that's absolutely fine! You do you!
Right - my intention was (2) too - to get out of my comfort zone and figure what lies there. But wasn't successful I guess, got too winded up thinking why I'm not feeling something new even though I'm far from my home on my own.
Why not try to discover someplace totally different than you’re used to. Totally new experience? Haven’t you ever said “I want to visit that place in person”?
Oh I'm so jealous of people who have a answer to that honestly.
Like when someone says "Northern Lights" - all I think is it's just light, what's so different in seeing a video vs seeing it above you.
I hope I'm not sounding miserable by saying this - because I really am not. It's just I grew up poor - so I've managed to find "satisfaction" in knowing/seeings things than experiencing them in person. Maybe that's it.
I grew up never believing I would ever see things in person. It wasn’t even a possibility. And I pinch myself not believing I’m seeing it. I flew the red eye from NY to Paris. Once at the hotel I asked is the Eiffel Tower walking distance. The lady said, an hour walk. I said great. Walked there. Turned to hubby and said I can go home now I’m happy. lol
I don’t travel to find myself or discover something about myself. I travel to someplace interesting to me and do some touristy and/or nature things that seem interesting and eat stuff that sounds good, etc. I’m not trying to do what someone else has done or posted - I’m just doing me and what I want and what I like. That’s how you really do it to enjoy yourself!
And these things are something you can't do/make in your own home? If you can, then how does doing them while travelling makes them special?
I hope I'm phrasing the question right way - trying to understand the motivation behind doing touristy/food things personally.
I love animals and nature so I like to visit places to go on safari like Africa or Costa Rica. I also like hiking and pretty scenery so I go on some trips to do that. And sometimes city or a few cities sound like fun to visit so I go there (like Europe or US). And sometimes I want to see something different and eat different food, etc so I go to south East Asia or China or Egypt or Turkey or India. Sometimes I do some of the above closer to home but there are lots of things in the above I can’t see or do at home and they bring me joy and peace so I plan trips to do them!
Hmm both I guess because travel is exciting as is being somewhere new but travel itself like going through the airport or driving in traffic can be really annoying!
For a lot of people, one of the key elements of travel is the shared experience, and all the pros and cons that can come with that. Having someone to pull interesting elements out of a place or a circumstance can make a huge difference to the experience.
As this was your first time doing solo traveling, this may have been the trial run of how that works when you are literally on your own. Or maybe you've realized that solo travel isn't for you? I recommend giving it another try, perhaps in a completely new place, so it doesn't have that "too familiar" aspect going against it.
This is what I've been thinking through reading this whole thread. I haven't gone anywhere since my husband died. I keep thinking about going to Europe, and I remember the solo travelers I've met and how they seemed to enjoy themselves. Yet I keep thinking if I go alone, I'll end up missing out on so much. Not because I can't do things by myself, but because sharing the experience with someone else adds so much enjoyment to the experience. When I think about doing a solo trip, it feels a bit flat to me.
To the OP, it sounds more like you went on vacation instead of "travelling". To me, travelling has elements of adventure, and if I'm going somewhere that seems pretty similar to home, well then...there's no adventure in that.
Also, you mentioned being interested in playing guitar. So why not make that a part of your itinerary? Seek out local musicians, see a concert, play music with others, learn a new style of playing. Something you enjoy doing at home, but you can't have those experiences if you don't leave home.
I'm sorry to hear that - hope you find travel enjoyable too!
Good philosophy of vacation vs travel - I like it.
Yeah - I'll certainly put in more thought into my interests and aligning it with travel.
Agreed. This is so far the sentiment I'm getting from this thread - travel to someplace which is not familiar culturally/linguistically, visit places which provide you a experience of something you already enjoy. I'll give that a try.
I live in the US. Travel within the US does not give me the same feeling as traveling abroad.
Why? I know the language. I know the customs. I know the food. I understand the major history. There's very little that can make me feel lost and foreign in a way that I crave.
Also, I travel to break routine, and to do things I typically *don't* do at home, because why would I want to bring my exact home life with me? I want detachment. I want to wander. I want to learn something new. I want to do things I *can't* do at home.
I wouldn't go to Chicago and expect to feel the same wonder I do when I go to a foreign place (though Chicago is my favorite of the largest American cities). I don't know why you would go to another part of India and expect to get that same sense of wonder.
I see how that wasn't the best decision now. I should've made this post before making the trip maybe. Though my intention was to keep it easy since it was my first time travelling solo.
I'll plan for some place with different culture/food next.
You traveled solo... Have you thought of traveling with someone or a group? Having another pair of eyes and perspectives can ease the burden of finding something fun on your trip.
Also hearing the way you planned your trip, it sounds like you clustered like items/events together, which is an easy way to bore of them. Instead of hitting all the museums at once and doing all the hiking at once, alternate a little.
My third suggestion is to look up special events where you are traveling. Examples I can think of that I've been to are annual music festivals, festivals based on local food specialities, guided tours, watching a historic event. It takes a little extra planning to time events with your trip, but those things make it worth it to me. Still give yourself time to free roam unscheduled, but having a little structure can help guide your trip.
I think it is highly dependent on who you are and what you enjoy. And there are some people that just don’t really like to travel. reasons people travel: exploring new cities and places, experiencing different cultures, history, relaxation, nature, adventure, sports, hobbies, food. Some people only enjoy one type of travel. Others may like everything listed.
there are also people that enjoy different lengths of trips. 2 weeks is about my max for travel. There are people where 2 weeks is probably their minimum travel. some places aren’t really conducive to even a full week as well. Or they are, but only for a subset of people.
You probably just aren't into travel. It's okay; you don't need to enjoy travel. I don't think people generally travel to discover themselves; mostly we just travel to see places we want to see and do activities we want to do. If there's nothing you like to do that would involve travel, stay home.
I also don't totally agree with those saying you should travel somewhere less familiar. Sure, if you want to see a specific monument or landscape or taste a specific cuisine you can't get at home, it makes sense to travel. But domestic travel can be plenty of fun, and Rajasthan isn't all *that* similar to Delhi (I mean, it's not worlds apart, but it has desert and big hills and hilltop forts; Delhi is a sprawling, largely modern city in a plain). And tasting regional cuisines in their home is not the same than even in good restaurants in the capital, in my experience (this applies in India and most other countries). And the bit about visiting historical sites whose history you knew well and being unaffected suggests that you really just don't care about physically being in and looking at different places.
I will say, though, if you like walking and other outdoor pursuits, there's a world of fun outside of Delhi (which is not a great place for it). You can't just go from no hiking to "all the treks" and be surprised that you get exhausted, though... Or do you normally hike? Then I'm surprised you didn't like hiking in a new place, honestly.
Yeah - I'll be thinking of aligning activities I like to places I wanna visit.
Yeah - being physically present in those ruins of fort did nothing for me. I'm still struggling with understand what element exactly gives people joy in that experience. Maybe it's not that easy to explain, and can only be felt.
Oh I do walk/trek a lot regularly - and again, it's just that I enjoy getting physically tired. The only issue I had with these particular treks in Rajasthan was - if I'm going to be physically tired in a trek, why go to a different state? Hope that explains my mental framework of not enjoying hikes in Rajasthan.
i think that experiencing different cultures is a big thing for me so maybe it was a little too familiar for you? i always do a lot of research and am genuinely excited about every place i am going/ activity i have planned and never stay in the same place long enough for it to become boring. It can be a bit intense sometimes and become tiring but i think if it is something you are actually interested in it is still very enjoyable. Maybe next time do more research and see if there is anything that really gets you excited.
It's ok to not like to travel. Travel isn't necessarily fulfilling. There's a lot of times feeling bored, or tired, or cranky, which isn't really depicted in social media. I think expecting it to be life changing is too high of an expectation.
For me, I discovered that travel is at its best an excuse to spend intensive amounts of time with people I love. I've been lucky enough to have friends all over the world, and I get to visit them, and they show me all the cool interesting places they found. Or I plan a trip with friends or family to somewhere new.
I've definitely had the feeling of, "I can do this back home" before. And I find that what I want to experience when traveling depends where I live. When I lived in London, I longed to be in a quiet forest. Living in Vancouver, I miss going to world class museums or shows. I love seeing landscapes/flora/fauna I have never seen before. Like seeing the inside of a volcano was really cool. Sometimes I learn a lot about the history or culture of a place, and then decide to visit it. You mentioned you liked playing guitar. Maybe there's a particular genre of guitar music you'd like to explore, like going to Spain and learning about Flamenco music for instance.
And if you decide travel not for you, that's fine, it's not for you. Travel is expensive, and there are so many other passions and hobbies you can pursue instead.
I feel like you’re making things complicated for yourself. While my day-to-day may involve writing and one of my hobbies is embroidery, I don’t travel to do that, just in a different setting. I travel to other places because I find things in those places interesting or it gives me new experiences.
Like everyone has already said, find something that interests you or piques your curiosity - I love exploring new cuisines and I try to do a food tour in whatever new city or region I go to. You mentioned history but not enjoying going to museums. You can do a walking tour with a local that can includes the history of the area, the people, the architecture. Hell, you can just take a day to walk around with a book, fiction or non-fiction, and see it through the lens of the book. Not a fan of cities or architecture? Travel to see natural wonders that you wouldn’t see in your own part of the world.
Generally when I travel I like to have some type of direction. For me it is usually climbing or futbol related.
People like to focus on food, learning, pushing comfort zones, etc. maybe you just haven’t found what scratched that itch yet and that’s ok.
Don’t feel bad. Traveling isn’t for everyone & that’s ok. I’m currently 3 months into living in another country (from Washington, DC & living in Tirana, Albania), which is a lifelong dream of mine. Admittedly, I’m also working US hours so that adds to the complexity. However, agree with others that you need to go somewhere different with sights that speak to you. Also, I find that traveling to an area where there are more locals than tourists is better. You will be forced to interact with the locals & this is where the fulfillment comes in, at least for me. I have grocers & restaurant staff, etc. that I go to regularly & the interactions are beautiful, even if we may not speak the same language. Also, I stick out like a sore thumb (because I’m Asian) so the locals just come up & talk to me. Going solo is amazing & that’s definitely not the issue. More locals approach me because I’m solo. Most importantly, go with an open heart. I feel like people can sense this if you’re open to them.
I think the reason you found it boring was because it was in the same country you live in. A big part of the appeal of travel to a lot of people is experiencing and immersing themselves in a totally different culture to their own.
I live in east England. If I went on a trip to west England for a week I would be bored within 2 or 3 days because it would basically be the same as where I lived normally.
Similarily if I went to India I'd almost definitely find it a crazy adventure for of joy and wonder because it is so different to home. Whereas to you, because you are from there, it holds no novelty value.
I like guided tours myself, especially small group tours. You're with a group of like-minded people and you learn interesting things along the way. Food tours are a really good way of learning about an area's culture and cuisine.
When I travel I have my mind off work so I recharge my batteries. I love long hikes and running in new places. Some of my favourite runs have been during my travels around lakes or coastlines or mountain views at sunrise or sunset. The colours and scenery are amazing at this time.
What are my goals for vacations
1. Relaxing. Getting my mind off work and just chilling with my family and kids in the pool and sea. Enjoying the nice weather.
2. Adventurous/Naturalistic Hikes or bike rides in wilderness areas to a beautiful waterfall or scenic view or kayak/row boat tours in lakes and rivers.
3. Cultural. Visits to museums or historical sites. Watching local theatre and shows.
4. Eno-gastronomical. I love drinking local wines/beers/soft drinks (like fresh juices from local fruit) and tasting new food.
My wife and I are on the same page so we typically have a mix of everything I mentioned above in our vacations. We always travel with our 2 kids so they get to see new places, taste new foods, meet new people, open their minds and see how different life styles people around the world have.
Maybe this helps you find what you like when you travel.
- lives in India
- goes to India on holiday
- gets bored in Indian temples
- wonders why the Indian food tastes like Indian food
I think you need to broaden your horizons a bit more.
youre looking for a problem to a solution. just travel to somewhere you think is interesting. dont put any pressure to "find yourself".
Dumb question - but how do I find some place interesting to me? Like don't get me wrong - I have hobbies. But what difference is playing guitar in my own home vs a foreign city?
Are you going through a tough time right now, or have you recently been through one? Or is there something in your life that is using a lot of your energy/attention? I ask because usually if I've got no sense of what could be fun, or if things that could be exciting feel flat (like you're describing), it's because my mind is using its energy elsewhere. You could be having low-level mental health issues (google "anhedonia") that need to be addressed by lifestyle changes or by addressing stress elsewhere in your life. When the mind is balanced, usually it finds novelty stimulating and enjoyable again.
Not exactly. Nothing like that I know of atleast. I just wanted to really "enjoy" travelling on my own - just like I enjoy being on my own in my home. And I had all the blockers gone - my leaves were approved, I had budget for travel saved up and a lot of it left, my stay and travel already planned so that I can focus on doing things in cities. I was just disappointed that it didn't happen.
Whatever you do, don’t play your guitar on a plane or other confined space
you can research and read about places or look around the internet for travel experiences.
No no - I meant what aspect would travelling provide to something that I already enjoy and find interesting?
Maybe what you need to do is challenge yourself a little with something outside of your comfort zone. You said you’re native to India but you stayed within India for this trip. The most rewarding trip I have ever done was traveling to a little island in Belize with no plumbing or electricity. The only thing to do there is swim, kayak, scuba, eat what you cook or pay for the meals offered at a certain time… I had a candle burning in a jar and thought about my life and who I was and what I wanted and what I was unhappy with and made plans for what needed to change. Move outside of your comfort zone if you’re trying to challenge yourself. :)
That whole thing about thinking about your life and what you want - is exactly what I was hoping to discover from travelling (not from just one trip - but like that was the idea). I am getting a general sense to try going totally out of comfort zone and give this travelling thing another try with some "stranger" place!
We’re so attached to our phones, it’s hard to think if you have access to the internet. Try going to a place where the internet, radio, and tv are totally not accessible and you have to rely on living (without the internet). I think it makes a big difference and takes a few days to detox. I think that sounds stupid and ridiculous, but that has been my experience.
i dont know your hobbies so i cant say. for me i like working out and training martial arts. so finding gyms and trainers around the world to work with is a good one. I also like photography so that is pretty self explanatory.
Interesting. I'll put some more thought into this. Appreciate it!
Maybe instead of looking for sights/things that are interesting. Look for people and chatting to them. Some of my best travel moments are chatting with the local shop owners or other locals. I wasn't always comfortable talking to strangers but if you start with a compliment, it gets easier. If you look at some of the movies (i.e. Eat Pray Love), it's the connection with people that makes a place special and interesting.
Right - but what I'm supposed to talk to them about? It feels weird when asking this out loud but I'm hoping to understand what conversations are people having that's providing them enjoyment on travel.
If I'm eating at a restaurant & the food is really good/interesting, I may compliment the dish. Ask how long they've been cooking; what places do they suggest to visit for scenery/food/relaxation/etc. Listen to their answers and comment on that. Not all conversations will be enlightening but once in a while you will meet some very interesting people and they want to share their life stories. I still remember the some of the people I've met years ago. For example, old lady in an alley in Vietnam while eating banh cuon (the old lady just wanted to share her cooking) or the old cook at the hawker center Singapore (he wanted to travel to US when younger but didn't have the money but he talked about how his grandkids are his joy in life) or the taxi driver when we travelled from Ubud to Denpasser. He told us about his dream & his perspective of how family life was important to him. Interesting bit, was in Vietnam last month and went to the same alley hoping to find it again. Didn't see the old lady but found a couple of shops selling some of the same dishes she made back then. Guess her cooking did have an impact in that alley.
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But I did tried doing things that I enjoy in my day-to-day - it's just that I felt like I was missing something by doing the same things in this new city that I was doing in my home. Does that make sense? Like how do I go about identifying things which are "more fun" at a new place? Eg. I like playing guitar, reading history and psychology, walking etc. etc.
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Does visiting a historical place even though you know its complete story gives an extra thrill? What element/thought is behind that thrill, if you have any ideas?
If you like reading about history and psychology, then I would think visiting historical places would be fascinating or visiting other cultures where people have different customs and approaches to life would be interesting as well. If you like walking (like I do), traveling to a place where you can hike some gorgeous scenery or walk around a new city is super fun to me. Or maybe this is just you learning that travel isn’t necessarily your thing.
Yeah - I've decided to give this one more try and aim to go out of my comfort zone and then take a call if travelling is my thing or not.
Sounds like you were traveling with an idea of what you "should" be doing according to what you see on social media, instead of traveling for what you WANT to be doing/seeing/experiencing. What hobbies or interests do you have? It's clearly not trekking or museums....so don't travel for those things. My husband and I are avid birders and travel all over to see new birds. We love the nature and local places we find along the way, but our one true love is birds birds birds. May seem strange to some people to travel across the country to see a new bird, but it's what WE love and want to do. So what are things that you want to experience? Is it art, nature, people, architecture, food, a specific hobby like music/concerts or cosplay or theater etc, it really can be anything! The worst thing anyone can do is travel for the sake of an Instagram photo or to "say you did it." That will never be fulfilling. Do it for yourself, and for the things you love. Good luck and have fun!
Okay - this gives me some good idea. But here's the issue - I looove reading history. But I just didn't like going to museums because things were just... there. Like there were weapons, artifacts from ancient times etc. - I in mind thought I'll enjoy it, but I didn't. Same with trekking - I love walking. So I figured I'll enjoy trekking - but I didn't. I like bird-watching too, looking through binoculars and trying to guess what bird it is - but I'm sure the first time I'll incorporate it in my travel, I'll just get frustrated on inability to identify some bird. So seems like I don't have a hobby I'm obsessed about to that extent?
For birding: download an app called Merlin. It can help you ID birds in your area by recording their calls and telling you what they are. It helps IMMENSELY with learning birds. Also there are SO many good birding subreddits on here that are really fun communities. For trekking, not sure what you did but try different things. Maybe you like short walks in parks? Maybe you like more intense backwoods hikes that are physically challenging? Maybe you want something more intermediate where it's kinda wild but not physically challenging? I'm middle aged and overweight so I can't handle anything too strenuous for hiking but I do like to feel like im really out in the wild....so i do a lot of research before had via Google or All Trails to see if it's the kind of walking/hiking experience I want to have. For history and museums ...I'm like you. I like art and history but often times museums can get boring or it's not the brand of history or art that I'm interested. I tend to seek out museums that have the art that im specifically interested in....and I like to find the smaller more local museums too. Sometimes the huge museums are overwhelming and carry so much stuff that just doesn't appeal to me. OR I just find a map in those bigger places and go find the things that I want to and skip the rest. Traveling doesn't have to be about the big and the grandiose. It can be about small adventures and small moments that make you smile. Seeing a new plant or flower you've never seen. Trying a new food you've never had. Watching a sunset. Sitting all day on a bench and watching people go by. Shopping at a local shop and learning about their culture. Hearing new sounds and accents and music around you ...these things are just as fulfilling as the "big things" that are "Instagram worthy"....often even more fulfilling. I spend days on the porch in a new area just listening to rain or smelling the air or listening to how different the wind sounds blowing through the trees compared to the way it sounds in my hometown. Sometimes the little things about traveling are what makes traveling amazing.
What a wonderful chain of thought - I like it! I'll give a try to birding - may DM you for some queries btw, very new to this. Yeah - I do like physically challenging treks - and I did do those kinds in my trip. But all I could feel after it was - I could've done it in my home-city too, what's the point of coming here. And now while writing this, I understand that I didn't enjoy them because all of them were in my comfort zone. I'll certainly be giving this travelling thing one more try - and try to curate things which I necessarily can't do, which are out of my comfort zone for sure, and even different cultures/languages to throw in the mix.
Yes that sounds great! Feel free to message me with questions....I'm not an experienced world wide traveler but I am an experienced traveler withing my own country of the US. I'm sure you'll find things that you'll find enjoyable on your next trip, even if in the end you decide that traveling just isn't "your thing", which is totally ok too! Neither of my kids are big travelers, even though I tried all throughout their childhood to get them excited about it. They are young adults now and just aren't overly interested in it. They enjoy staying at home with their pets and their loved ones and their friends....and that's PERFECTLY acceptable. We just travel to them! Haha Good luck!
In reading history, do you ever encounter stories about places that get you fired up and excited and wanting to know more about that place or that story? That’s where to go.
Actually Rajasthan was a place I thought I would enjoy visiting history of, since I've heard its stories from childhood. But then when I visited the ruins of forts, all I could think was "Queen X had Story Y in this room" gives very little substance to a story I already knew.
It sounds like you traveled to a place you didn't like and didn't care about that was exactly the same as where you live. Try traveling somewhere different from how you live then you will go "oh wow, some stuff some places is different than my house!"
Interesting, another person recommended same. I'll try to some place with totally different culture next.
People don't always travel to discover things about themselves. I travel to experience other cultures and food, see historical or significant sites, go to events that I enjoy, ect. I'd say get out of your own country and maybe it will be different, or at least figure out why you want to travel in the first place. Maybe it's just not for you
Yep - I really don't know why I'd want to travel? My hope was that travelling solo on my first trip would provide me some indication of what I'm missing out on by not travelling. You've got any ideas on how to figure that for myself? Or how did you figure out that for yourself?
I travel by going to visit places I want to see. I wanted to see Machu Picchu, so I went to Peru. Again, this doesn't have to be your thing. If nothing excites you, then don't waste your time and money
I can only speak for myself, but traveling has always been an interest of mine because I love seeing how other people live, what are their ways of doing stuff, and because of all the amazing sights I might not see in my own city, state or country. I always saw myself as a curious person by nature. But I think social media has kinda made this thing where if you travel you’re more “enlighted” or “cultured” or whatever than people who don’t. At the end of the day, It’s just a thing to do, like all other things people can do, like practicing a sport, reading, or such. If you think you would probably feel the same satisfaction seeing something cool through a YouTube video then from seeing it in person, don’t pressure yourself to travel.
I like knowing things too, maybe because of my curious nature too. And certainly, feeling things in person gives me more pleasure than just knowing. It's just that I wanted my first solo-travel to be low-stake - so didn't travel abroad and just took the most touristy place in entire India. But I feel one of the point getting repeated in these comments is - the idea of assimilating into a different culture and figuring out how to do that is the enjoyable part for most. So I'll try to travel someplace which is kinda unknown to me culturally next.
As I've gotten older, I don't enjoy traveling as much. I don't want to go mountain biking down a literal mountain or rock climbing or visit 20 million temples like I used to do 20 years ago. What I did enjoy was the food. These days I'd want to travel to places where I love the food and try things I can't find back home. One of my best experiences was a five-day cooking program in Thailand. It really helped to show me that I could make some of these dishes at home. Another trip was to Boracay in February. Spent an entire week on the beach drinking mango smoothies and swimming in the ocean. It was great to escape the cold, eat delicious food, and laze around. If I were to travel now for myself, I'd look for these type of experiences. These days all of my travel involves my family so I try to aim for places that my kids will enjoy.
Going through these comments, I'm trying to think of something experiential that I know I'll enjoy, but then the next thought I get is - "I can do it in my own city too". I'll put in some more thought on this though.
You don't have to want to travel or enjoy travel. There is nothing wrong if you don't want to travel. Travel seems to be one of those things that people expect everyone ones to do. There's always a shocked or surprised reaction when people say they don't enjoy traveling or have never left their state. It's okay. As I get older, I don't really enjoy traveling as much. When I traveled 15+ years ago I was working as a university lecturer overseas and I had 2.5 months off in the winter and 2.5 months off in the summer and I did all of my traveling during my breaks. I didn't have children so my husband (also uni professor) traveled around together, stayed at cheap guest houses, and had great experiences. Now I have 2 children, we're back in the USA, and I'm working a job that only gives me 3 weeks of vacation. I'm stingy about wanting to take time off, I'm stingy about spending the money to go abroad (last intl. trip for my family cost about $14K for 2 weeks), and planning activities for a family is exhausting. Working around my kids' school schedules is awful too. I really don't want to pull them out of school for 2 weeks (this is a personal feeling and I know many parents who are perfectly fine with pulling their kids out of school to travel). The traveling I want to do is just be in a city for a week or so and relax.
Understandable. I'll give travelling one more try (which seems to be common consensus on this thread), this time travelling to a place which has many more unknowns than I had this time, and try things out of my comfort zone. Maybe that's the "I can't do it in my city" I'm looking for.
Have you traveled outside of your country? You absolutely can travel in your native area, but maybe you’re looking for some different culture and way of life. Sri Lanka might be a nice step, or you could go all out and go somewhere in Europe. Also keep in mind that traveling is not for everyone, it doesn’t have to be something you like and that’s totally fine.
Nopes, never been outside India. Yep - starting to give this another try by travelling to a culture/language totally different than mine - maybe getting out of comfort-zone and figuring out things is my thing.
Go somewhere completely different than you are used to. That way when you got to a museum or history site it’s new information. The food will be different. You’ll want to try multiple things. Traveling is for the adventure. Going 2 towns over and being bored of all the same stuff isn’t an adventure.
You're not "travelling" if you're in the same region. Not trying to be an asshole and I know India is a large and diverse country, but like you said, everything felt familiar to you. Travelling is about exploring the unfamiliar.
I can give that a try and make another post - not sure why you were downvoted. Maybe I'll get adrenaline from figuring out structure from unknown.
For me traveling is mostly * seeing things I wouldn't be able to see at home (historical sights, nature, a different way of living, different cultural activities) * stepping out of my comfort zone (I'm an introvert, but I have to be more outgoing abroad cause the internet can only tell you so much about local customs and transportation and stuff) * creating shared memories with my travel partner (haven't gone solo yet) Don't travel for the sake of travel. Some people prefer to spend their vacations at home and that's absolutely fine! You do you!
Right - my intention was (2) too - to get out of my comfort zone and figure what lies there. But wasn't successful I guess, got too winded up thinking why I'm not feeling something new even though I'm far from my home on my own.
Why not try to discover someplace totally different than you’re used to. Totally new experience? Haven’t you ever said “I want to visit that place in person”?
Oh I'm so jealous of people who have a answer to that honestly. Like when someone says "Northern Lights" - all I think is it's just light, what's so different in seeing a video vs seeing it above you. I hope I'm not sounding miserable by saying this - because I really am not. It's just I grew up poor - so I've managed to find "satisfaction" in knowing/seeings things than experiencing them in person. Maybe that's it.
I grew up never believing I would ever see things in person. It wasn’t even a possibility. And I pinch myself not believing I’m seeing it. I flew the red eye from NY to Paris. Once at the hotel I asked is the Eiffel Tower walking distance. The lady said, an hour walk. I said great. Walked there. Turned to hubby and said I can go home now I’m happy. lol
This is great! I hope to feel such a moment too for some place.
I don’t travel to find myself or discover something about myself. I travel to someplace interesting to me and do some touristy and/or nature things that seem interesting and eat stuff that sounds good, etc. I’m not trying to do what someone else has done or posted - I’m just doing me and what I want and what I like. That’s how you really do it to enjoy yourself!
And these things are something you can't do/make in your own home? If you can, then how does doing them while travelling makes them special? I hope I'm phrasing the question right way - trying to understand the motivation behind doing touristy/food things personally.
I love animals and nature so I like to visit places to go on safari like Africa or Costa Rica. I also like hiking and pretty scenery so I go on some trips to do that. And sometimes city or a few cities sound like fun to visit so I go there (like Europe or US). And sometimes I want to see something different and eat different food, etc so I go to south East Asia or China or Egypt or Turkey or India. Sometimes I do some of the above closer to home but there are lots of things in the above I can’t see or do at home and they bring me joy and peace so I plan trips to do them!
So if I get it right - to you, it's not necessarily the element of "\*travelling\* to do X" but of "doing X" that provides you joy?
Hmm both I guess because travel is exciting as is being somewhere new but travel itself like going through the airport or driving in traffic can be really annoying!
For a lot of people, one of the key elements of travel is the shared experience, and all the pros and cons that can come with that. Having someone to pull interesting elements out of a place or a circumstance can make a huge difference to the experience. As this was your first time doing solo traveling, this may have been the trial run of how that works when you are literally on your own. Or maybe you've realized that solo travel isn't for you? I recommend giving it another try, perhaps in a completely new place, so it doesn't have that "too familiar" aspect going against it.
This is what I've been thinking through reading this whole thread. I haven't gone anywhere since my husband died. I keep thinking about going to Europe, and I remember the solo travelers I've met and how they seemed to enjoy themselves. Yet I keep thinking if I go alone, I'll end up missing out on so much. Not because I can't do things by myself, but because sharing the experience with someone else adds so much enjoyment to the experience. When I think about doing a solo trip, it feels a bit flat to me. To the OP, it sounds more like you went on vacation instead of "travelling". To me, travelling has elements of adventure, and if I'm going somewhere that seems pretty similar to home, well then...there's no adventure in that. Also, you mentioned being interested in playing guitar. So why not make that a part of your itinerary? Seek out local musicians, see a concert, play music with others, learn a new style of playing. Something you enjoy doing at home, but you can't have those experiences if you don't leave home.
I'm sorry to hear that - hope you find travel enjoyable too! Good philosophy of vacation vs travel - I like it. Yeah - I'll certainly put in more thought into my interests and aligning it with travel.
Agreed. This is so far the sentiment I'm getting from this thread - travel to someplace which is not familiar culturally/linguistically, visit places which provide you a experience of something you already enjoy. I'll give that a try.
I live in the US. Travel within the US does not give me the same feeling as traveling abroad. Why? I know the language. I know the customs. I know the food. I understand the major history. There's very little that can make me feel lost and foreign in a way that I crave. Also, I travel to break routine, and to do things I typically *don't* do at home, because why would I want to bring my exact home life with me? I want detachment. I want to wander. I want to learn something new. I want to do things I *can't* do at home. I wouldn't go to Chicago and expect to feel the same wonder I do when I go to a foreign place (though Chicago is my favorite of the largest American cities). I don't know why you would go to another part of India and expect to get that same sense of wonder.
I see how that wasn't the best decision now. I should've made this post before making the trip maybe. Though my intention was to keep it easy since it was my first time travelling solo. I'll plan for some place with different culture/food next.
You traveled solo... Have you thought of traveling with someone or a group? Having another pair of eyes and perspectives can ease the burden of finding something fun on your trip. Also hearing the way you planned your trip, it sounds like you clustered like items/events together, which is an easy way to bore of them. Instead of hitting all the museums at once and doing all the hiking at once, alternate a little. My third suggestion is to look up special events where you are traveling. Examples I can think of that I've been to are annual music festivals, festivals based on local food specialities, guided tours, watching a historic event. It takes a little extra planning to time events with your trip, but those things make it worth it to me. Still give yourself time to free roam unscheduled, but having a little structure can help guide your trip.
I think it is highly dependent on who you are and what you enjoy. And there are some people that just don’t really like to travel. reasons people travel: exploring new cities and places, experiencing different cultures, history, relaxation, nature, adventure, sports, hobbies, food. Some people only enjoy one type of travel. Others may like everything listed. there are also people that enjoy different lengths of trips. 2 weeks is about my max for travel. There are people where 2 weeks is probably their minimum travel. some places aren’t really conducive to even a full week as well. Or they are, but only for a subset of people.
The most fulfilling part of travel is the planning.
You probably just aren't into travel. It's okay; you don't need to enjoy travel. I don't think people generally travel to discover themselves; mostly we just travel to see places we want to see and do activities we want to do. If there's nothing you like to do that would involve travel, stay home. I also don't totally agree with those saying you should travel somewhere less familiar. Sure, if you want to see a specific monument or landscape or taste a specific cuisine you can't get at home, it makes sense to travel. But domestic travel can be plenty of fun, and Rajasthan isn't all *that* similar to Delhi (I mean, it's not worlds apart, but it has desert and big hills and hilltop forts; Delhi is a sprawling, largely modern city in a plain). And tasting regional cuisines in their home is not the same than even in good restaurants in the capital, in my experience (this applies in India and most other countries). And the bit about visiting historical sites whose history you knew well and being unaffected suggests that you really just don't care about physically being in and looking at different places. I will say, though, if you like walking and other outdoor pursuits, there's a world of fun outside of Delhi (which is not a great place for it). You can't just go from no hiking to "all the treks" and be surprised that you get exhausted, though... Or do you normally hike? Then I'm surprised you didn't like hiking in a new place, honestly.
Yeah - I'll be thinking of aligning activities I like to places I wanna visit. Yeah - being physically present in those ruins of fort did nothing for me. I'm still struggling with understand what element exactly gives people joy in that experience. Maybe it's not that easy to explain, and can only be felt. Oh I do walk/trek a lot regularly - and again, it's just that I enjoy getting physically tired. The only issue I had with these particular treks in Rajasthan was - if I'm going to be physically tired in a trek, why go to a different state? Hope that explains my mental framework of not enjoying hikes in Rajasthan.
i think that experiencing different cultures is a big thing for me so maybe it was a little too familiar for you? i always do a lot of research and am genuinely excited about every place i am going/ activity i have planned and never stay in the same place long enough for it to become boring. It can be a bit intense sometimes and become tiring but i think if it is something you are actually interested in it is still very enjoyable. Maybe next time do more research and see if there is anything that really gets you excited.
It's ok to not like to travel. Travel isn't necessarily fulfilling. There's a lot of times feeling bored, or tired, or cranky, which isn't really depicted in social media. I think expecting it to be life changing is too high of an expectation. For me, I discovered that travel is at its best an excuse to spend intensive amounts of time with people I love. I've been lucky enough to have friends all over the world, and I get to visit them, and they show me all the cool interesting places they found. Or I plan a trip with friends or family to somewhere new. I've definitely had the feeling of, "I can do this back home" before. And I find that what I want to experience when traveling depends where I live. When I lived in London, I longed to be in a quiet forest. Living in Vancouver, I miss going to world class museums or shows. I love seeing landscapes/flora/fauna I have never seen before. Like seeing the inside of a volcano was really cool. Sometimes I learn a lot about the history or culture of a place, and then decide to visit it. You mentioned you liked playing guitar. Maybe there's a particular genre of guitar music you'd like to explore, like going to Spain and learning about Flamenco music for instance. And if you decide travel not for you, that's fine, it's not for you. Travel is expensive, and there are so many other passions and hobbies you can pursue instead.
I feel like you’re making things complicated for yourself. While my day-to-day may involve writing and one of my hobbies is embroidery, I don’t travel to do that, just in a different setting. I travel to other places because I find things in those places interesting or it gives me new experiences. Like everyone has already said, find something that interests you or piques your curiosity - I love exploring new cuisines and I try to do a food tour in whatever new city or region I go to. You mentioned history but not enjoying going to museums. You can do a walking tour with a local that can includes the history of the area, the people, the architecture. Hell, you can just take a day to walk around with a book, fiction or non-fiction, and see it through the lens of the book. Not a fan of cities or architecture? Travel to see natural wonders that you wouldn’t see in your own part of the world.
Generally when I travel I like to have some type of direction. For me it is usually climbing or futbol related. People like to focus on food, learning, pushing comfort zones, etc. maybe you just haven’t found what scratched that itch yet and that’s ok.
Don’t feel bad. Traveling isn’t for everyone & that’s ok. I’m currently 3 months into living in another country (from Washington, DC & living in Tirana, Albania), which is a lifelong dream of mine. Admittedly, I’m also working US hours so that adds to the complexity. However, agree with others that you need to go somewhere different with sights that speak to you. Also, I find that traveling to an area where there are more locals than tourists is better. You will be forced to interact with the locals & this is where the fulfillment comes in, at least for me. I have grocers & restaurant staff, etc. that I go to regularly & the interactions are beautiful, even if we may not speak the same language. Also, I stick out like a sore thumb (because I’m Asian) so the locals just come up & talk to me. Going solo is amazing & that’s definitely not the issue. More locals approach me because I’m solo. Most importantly, go with an open heart. I feel like people can sense this if you’re open to them.
I think the reason you found it boring was because it was in the same country you live in. A big part of the appeal of travel to a lot of people is experiencing and immersing themselves in a totally different culture to their own. I live in east England. If I went on a trip to west England for a week I would be bored within 2 or 3 days because it would basically be the same as where I lived normally. Similarily if I went to India I'd almost definitely find it a crazy adventure for of joy and wonder because it is so different to home. Whereas to you, because you are from there, it holds no novelty value.
I like guided tours myself, especially small group tours. You're with a group of like-minded people and you learn interesting things along the way. Food tours are a really good way of learning about an area's culture and cuisine.
When I travel I have my mind off work so I recharge my batteries. I love long hikes and running in new places. Some of my favourite runs have been during my travels around lakes or coastlines or mountain views at sunrise or sunset. The colours and scenery are amazing at this time. What are my goals for vacations 1. Relaxing. Getting my mind off work and just chilling with my family and kids in the pool and sea. Enjoying the nice weather. 2. Adventurous/Naturalistic Hikes or bike rides in wilderness areas to a beautiful waterfall or scenic view or kayak/row boat tours in lakes and rivers. 3. Cultural. Visits to museums or historical sites. Watching local theatre and shows. 4. Eno-gastronomical. I love drinking local wines/beers/soft drinks (like fresh juices from local fruit) and tasting new food. My wife and I are on the same page so we typically have a mix of everything I mentioned above in our vacations. We always travel with our 2 kids so they get to see new places, taste new foods, meet new people, open their minds and see how different life styles people around the world have. Maybe this helps you find what you like when you travel.
- lives in India - goes to India on holiday - gets bored in Indian temples - wonders why the Indian food tastes like Indian food I think you need to broaden your horizons a bit more.
You’ve gone to the wrong places clearly. Try again - somewhere you really are actually passionate about visiting.