 | | Kong Lo Cave in Laos |
Last fall, Let's Travel! produced a radio show that focused on people who live sustainable travel, making money off of travel and making travel a way of life. Wide-eyed, I was eager to hear about these lifestyles, tales of endless adventures that I envied at the time.
Seven months into my own travel adventure, I see the other side of the coin. In a way that I couldn't access back in November, I now understand that long-term travel isn't all bliss. It's hard to be open to life-changing experiences, and patient with strangers, and resilient after setbacks for months straight. And I'm not even on-the-road in the true sense; I have reasonable stability in a community, a home, and a teaching gig here in Malaysia.
 | | Monks climbing Wat Arun in Bangkok |
It's not that I've become disenchanted with travel. No doubt, I still cling to the ideals of the down-to-earth, open-minded traveler, much like the epitome of vagabond perfection described here. It's just that, with my travel timetable stretching well beyond a few weeks or even a few months, I've come to value different things. Like hot showers. And a blind acceptance of faulty/nonexistent transportation schedules. And the ability to miss the biggest temple in town and not regret it afterward.
 | | A tea plantation in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia |
Truth be told, I'm keen to abandon guidebooks and itineraries and instead sit for hours on the back of a rickety truck barreling down a dirt road to nowhere. In fact, that kind of thing has become even more relaxing than a crystal-water beach. Because the mountain-bathed clouds surrounding the songthaew are inevitably beautiful. And the bumps (or mud-baths, or inexplicable barriers) along the way always make for good entertainment, anyway.
 | | From the back of a songthaew in Laos |
 | | Laos |
It's strange to feel myself, and my travel preferences, changing.
I'm still partially surprised when I seek Western food instead of local dishes because I've already had rice and curry of some sort for breakfast, and I'm likely to consume it again at least once in the next twenty-four hours. Then the fresh-bread sandwich, or the brewed espresso, or the anything-involving-REAL-dairy comes, and my surprise is met with deep satisfaction. The kind of satisfaction that can only stem from losing oneself in a dessert that is free of corn, beans, and congealed jelly.
 | | Morning dim sum in Malaysia. |
Sometimes, the burger with fries and the single room in the corner really are the best options. Maybe they lack a valiant sheen, but isn't traveling about being genuine with ourselves? If we can't be honest halfway across the world while traipsing through Southeast Asia, then when can we be? Seven months into my Southeast Asia voyage, I'm learning the value of honesty in travel. It's kind of nice this way, without the search for the next glorious tale or epic Facebook post. It's also leading me to the real thing that I'm chasing in this grand adventure: happy travels.
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A Bangkok temple
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About Let's Travel!
Let's Travel! is a radio show and website that gives visitors and listeners the insider's take on travel. Come explore the world of travel and culture with us at www.letstravelradio.com.
The Tattler, radio show and website are produced by Susi Raphael and Michael Zufolo.
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15-Course Street Meal,
Bangkok
 | | Image c/o Uncornered Market |
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How to Avoid Temple Fatigue
(and other valuable travel advice)
Warning: this post encourages half days of travel and naps. And it's refreshing.
Kind of like it's refreshing to finally encounter a blogger who admits what we're all thinking, "Enough with the temples, already." The Road Forks makes this concession and others in its honest post for real travelers, the kind who sometimes get exhausted. Read more at Theroadforks.com.
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Ask Lonely Planet
 | | The New Zealand Herald Photo / Bloomberg |
Lonely Planet authors dish on an ideal Vietnam itinerary, the most cost-efficient ways of getting visas, and how to island hop through Thailand without the tourists. Their advice is personalized and pertinent, and also more up-to-date than Lonely Planet books. Check out The New Zealand Herald's article archives for more LP advice on traveling other regions of the world, or to submit your own questions to the travel gurus.
 | | The New Zealand Herald Photo / Thinstock |
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Good Life Surf
 | | Image c/o baguslife.com |
As much as Southeast Asia is an open invitation for beach bums, it's also a haven for those who are keen on catching some waves. BagusLife.com has an extensive been-there guide of surf spots, including where to stay, where to relax, and where to hit the waves, throughout Indonesia, Switzerland, and many countries in between. Check out their reviews for an insider guide on beach-hopping through Bali, or just marvel at their impeccable photograph essays from their adventures on their site, BagusLife.com.
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Holidaysia
 | | Image c/o holidaysia.com |
You already know about the festivals of kites and lights. Now it's time for you to get up on a crash course in K-Pop (also known as the Asia Song Festival), various Formula 1 Grand Prix demos, Barça's (Barcelona's futbol team) first visit to Malaysia, and a New Year's festival in July. Keep up-to-date on these and more festivals throughout Southeast Asia at Holidaysia.com.
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New Vacation, New You
 | | Image c/o outdoorgearlab.com |
For those who resolved to weigh less and travel more this year, Steve Silberberg has an answer: Fitpacking is an initiative that takes novices backpacking and helps them to lose weight during the trip. "I was always into backpacking and when I went on vacation, I noticed that afterwards my clothes fit better and I felt a whole lot better," says Silberberg, who used to be twenty-five pounds overweight before his backpacking forays. Fitpacking offers 23 trips in 2013, the vast majority in the United States (including Canyonlands National Park in Utah, the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, and Redwoods National Park in California), along with a trip to Israel and Chile. Trips average $1000/week, (not including transportation to the start of the tour and equipment) and include 8-10 hours of hiking per day, healthy eating, and, yes, the occasional sweet treat. About 45% of participants on the tours are returnees, so be sure to book at least four months in advance because these tours can sell out quickly. More info at Fitpacking.com.
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Party of One
 | | Image c/o huffingtonpost.com |
Traveling alone can be rewarding for the fiercely independent voyager, or for anyone who needs a break from the social realm. Now, with these new additions to online booking sites, flying solo can be cost efficient, too.
WomenWelcomeWomen does a bang-up job of connecting female travelers with locals who like to meet and help outsiders when they come to their city. Globalgreeternetwork.com serves as a directory for greeters programs around the world, which provide informal free tours with locals. For the more luxurious traveler, both Tauck Tours and Abercrombie and Kent waive the singles supplement, or reduce it by up to 75%, on a number of their departures. Find more party-of-one discounts and tips at Frommers.com.
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