What I've learned through travel
Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 08:20PM Countries visited (as of 2020)
By now, one would think I knew a little more about being a traveler.
One travels, the gurus explain, not to understand more about other peoples and cultures, not to see historical sights and eat new food, or even just to relax by a beach, but to learn more about oneself.
I am still learning.
I am going home tomorrow, a month earlier than I had planned from my long anticipated, post retirement 3 months of "backpacking" around SE Asia. I am healthy, have funds, and am not running from any law enforcement agencies. I've had wonderful experiences here, but...
- Three months is too long to be gone from home and friends. The longest I'd traveled before has been 3 weeks, with most trips being 1 to 2 weeks in length. The shorter trips seemed too short, but somehow that made the time there more special.
- The exotic gets old. I like experiencing new foods and cultures, hearing new languages, seeing how other people live. But eating noodles, boiled vegetables, and rice for breakfast gets old quickly. I also miss my hometown restaurants, hearing Minnesotan spoken, my recliner, and hiking my favorite parks. I think a breakfast of pancakes at Dennys may be the first thing I do when I get home.
- The heat can be as wearing as the cold. I chose this time to travel primarily to miss as much of the Minnesota winter as possible. Yet SE Asia's heat and humidity is getting tiresome as well. My shirt is soaking wet with sweat here in Thailand even when I get back from early morning walks. The heat drives me inside as much as the cold does at home. You'd think I'd remember from my five years in Saudi Arabia.
- I prefer 3 star hotels to hostels. Maybe I did not look carefully enough, but the hostels I looked at were aimed at a much younger, party-loving customer than this old introvert can stand. I had anticipated finding lodging that would have allowed some interactions with fellow travelers, but that did not happen much this trip. I've found that things like AC, swimming pools, an in-house restaurant, hot water, and toilet paper all add to the pleasure of travel.
- I don't need to see a museum or historic site a second time. I've see the watts of Bangkok. I don't need to go again.
- I am not a beach person. While I like walking on and viewing the seashore, I don't like just lying in the sun. If I am going to simply sit and read, I prefer a cool shady spot or my air-conditioned hotel room.
- Self-guided travel is hard work and anxiety producing. Getting from point A to point B is challenging when going by oneself. Booking flights, arranging local transportation, researching your locale, and even choosing a place to eat, all take a lot of effort. Late night flights, long bus rides, and hotel rooms on noisy streets are wearing, even if not aerobicaly taxing. I'm learning the value of a guided tour is usually worth the cost.
- I am a creature of habit. Some of this trip has been simply staying at a single hotel for several days. When I do this, I find myself with a daily schedule much like that at home: walk in the early morning, write until early afternoon, nap, eat supper, and the read in the evenings, icluding the hometown online newspapers. I am not big on "winging it," liking to schedule any activities in advance.
- I don't do late nights. I sense that in many cities, life may not start until well after dark. Even when traveling and knowing I don't have to get up at any set time, I am in bed by 10pm. An old age cliche, perhaps, but there you are. I'm sure this preference has kept me out of a lot of mischief. It's hard to admit, but my energy levels are just not what they once were.
- I get lonesome. I truly value my alone time both at home and when I travel, but I must admit, that I miss my friends, colleagues, and family much more than I had ever guessed after such a long time away. I'd have probably been home a month ago had my family and I had not gotten together in Vietnam for several weeks. Not the tough guy I had imagined myself to be.
I have had a great time on this adventure. My son's wedding in Ho Chi Minh City, meeting his new in-laws, hiking in the Philippines and Vietnam, touring with my friend Heidi, and relaxing, reading, and writing in small hotels for a few days were all great. I did not have any security issues, my debit card always worked, no unexpected expenses (other than the cost of an earlier flight home), and my health was good except for a couple days of tummy troubles in Vietnam, quickly cured with Pepto.
My plans are to continue to travel, but with an increased understanding of myself and my travel preferences. I don't know that I need to be gone for more than a couple weeks at a time. For a longer stay as a snowbird, maybe renting an AirBnb with a kitchen and doing day trips might be a good choice. And perhaps the choice of new places rather than returning to those I have already visited might renew my excitement about travel. I still have four states in the US I've not seen, many state and national parks I've not hiked, and even parts of Minnesota yet to see (International Falls, anyone?)
Learning about oneself is not always a comfortable experience. For me, it is usually quite humbling. But it is necessary for a good life.
Reader Comments (6)
I enjoyed reading what you have learned about yourself as those things line up pretty much with my own eperiences. My wife and I did our big traveling just after we were married (Europe) and even our 6-week travel in Europe made us glad to get home. I am less enthusiastic at 73 and my idea of roughiing it is to stay at a Motel 6 insstead of the Four Seasons.
You are right about self guided travel. I like it in smaller doses. The research librarian part of me enjoys the preparation for two weeks in one country. You never see everything in one visit to a place, and that is ok. (Currently working on North island New Zealand for next fall if you have any suggestions). There is also a time and place for letting someone else make all the plans, but I get turned off by too many touristy activities and forced socialization with a time schedule. So there are trade offs.
It sounds like you learned a lot about yourself along the way and I agree, growth is a good thing at our age. Enjoy your homecoming!
Doug, you may be all Asia-ed out right now, but I highly recommend South Korea for your next trip, especially in the spring or fall. I’ve visited my daughter in Seoul twice and am always amazed at how easy it is to get around. (I didn’t travel outside Seoul by myself, but I’d wager it’s much easier than your treks in Thailand or Vietnam!) In Seoul, there’s a lot to do and see. Transportation is easy—great English signage—cheap, and clean. I went 2 years ago and had a beautiful Airbnb studio apartment in a perfect location for about $50 a night. Subway station in my building, although I was walking distance to most of what I wanted to see. There’s a great hike around most of the old city wall, interesting museums (again with excellent English signage.) I’m thinking of going back again this spring and getting down to Jeju Island, but there’s plenty left for me to see in Seoul, too. My daughter has a lot of travel videos on YouTube (search Cari Cakes, and then look for her Travel Outside Seoul playlist.)
I always enjoy reading about your travels. Two more years before I retire, but we’ve got a long list of places to go!
Mary
Thanks for leaving the comment, Floyd. I am 67 and worry about the number of years my body will still want to hike and bicycle. I am up for a big backpacking trip to Philmont with Boy Scout grandson this summer. Hoping the bod holds up!
Take care,
Doug
Hi Mary,
Thanks so much for the recommendation. South Korea is now on my bucket list! I am in the Inchon Airport right now on a long layover. It's a lovely airport with a better free transfer lounge than a lot of airline lounges I've been in!
Doug
Hi Elena,
Thanks for the comment.
I spent about 10 days in New Zealand with my son who was taking a gap year by working in Wellington. We met in Auckland, rented a car and drove back to Wellington (length of the North Island). It's a drive on the left country so I was nervous! I enjoyed Rotarua - learned a lot about the Maori peoples and interesting geology.
For me, the highlight of the trip was a short flight to the South Island were we did a 5 hike of Abel Tasman National Park. We spent each night in very nice lodges, had a guide, and did some kayaking as well.
Safe travels! I hope your trip works out.
Doug
I feel the same way about all of the things you wrote! I'm just thankful that my husband is with me. He is really the travel lover and I go along but I'm the one who tends to make all of the arrangements and it is stressful. We are not big beach people either. We tend to skip churches and museums but look for the unique things about places.We either stay at 3 star hotels or our own tent. We are not late party animals any more (that ship has sailed!). Hubby knows that after 60 days, I'm pretty much ready to go home. We have traveled cross country 3 times and each time (62 days, 65 days, 61 days), I get to the point where I'm done (stick a fork in me!) and I want to go home. I miss my bed, my internet, my routine, my family and friends, and things that are familiar to me where I don't have to think too much. I'm glad you had a good time though! Happy future travels.
Hi Pat,
Good to know I am not the only one with the 60 day limit. My friend Heidi has a 3 week limit! Thankfully she doesn''t make a fuss about me traveling solo.
Next up: road trip to Utah to hike Bryce and Zion Parks with Roads Scholar group (a first with them for me) in April/May and then backpacking with grandson in New Mexico in July. Then who knows? If budget allows, I may sneak a writing weekend in sometime yet this spring.
Take care and happy travels to you as well!
Doug