Just came back from India…one of the ways I coped with the culture shock was to practice ONLY looking at the snapshots of my view–not the whole view–too chaotic.
The woman selling cucumbers with chili pepper NOT the whole street.
The beggars smile that lit up his face–not the whole group of beggars outside the temple.
Once I started doing that, I saw the beauty that was possible if you only narrowed the view down.
We better understand ourselves and others when we leave home to experience the world firsthand. Independent travel is a departure from routine -- an opportunity to learn, have fun and embrace life in novel environments and cultures.
-Indie travel is about replacing broad expectations with nuanced realities.
-Indie travel is about seeing yourself in the context of a rich and complex world.
-Indie travel is about defining your values, exploring your beliefs, and crafting your own meaning for life.
Indie travelers value...
-Options over possessions
-Dynamic possibilities over static goals
-Discovery over escape
-Interactions over transactions
-Local information over received information
-First-hand experience over expert opinions
-Mental and spiritual growth as much as physical adventure
-Private transformation over social status and bragging rights
-The present moment over dreams of past and future
Indie travelers do...
-Pack light and keep things simple
-Adapt as they go rather than micromanage in advance
-Practice caution, but not paranoia
-Know how to slow down and enjoy an experience
-Seek pleasure in simple moments and details
-Make meaningful connections and informed decisions
-Learn the economic, political and environmental context of their host culture
-Emphasize listening more than talking
-Practice courtesy, patience, humility, and good humor
-Seek to understand -- not judge or romanticize -- other cultures
-Give back to the local economy
-Share what they’ve learned with others
This one resonates the most with me. Travel is the one trick I’ve found to really feel in the moment.
Absolutely.
agreed!
Its very South Asian !
Direct pointing to the mind of man. Past and Future are nothing but illusions. (Padmasambhava) The Buddha Dharma so to say!
Just came back from India…one of the ways I coped with the culture shock was to practice ONLY looking at the snapshots of my view–not the whole view–too chaotic.
The woman selling cucumbers with chili pepper NOT the whole street.
The beggars smile that lit up his face–not the whole group of beggars outside the temple.
Once I started doing that, I saw the beauty that was possible if you only narrowed the view down.