How To Travel The World Without Feeling Like A Tourist
One of the biggest shifts while traveling the world is realizing the difference between a nomad and a tourist. If you’re not familiar with the word “nomad,” (I wasn’t either), you might be wondering, what’s the difference?
First, let’s start with some standard definitions, courteous of wikipedia.org:
Nomad: A member of a community without fixed habitation which regularly moves to and from the same areas. Such groups include hunter-gatherers, pastorial (owning livestock) and tinkers or trader nomads.
(wikipedia.org)
I guess the word is more archaic that I thought. Let’s get into the more up-to-date version, shall we? Intro to adding “Digital” in front:
Digital Nomad: Someone who uses technologies to earn a living and, more generally, conduct their life in a nomadic manner. Such workers often work remotely from foreign countries, coffee shops, co-working spaces, or RV’s. This is often accomplished through the use of devices that have wireless Internet capabilities. Successful digital nomads typically have a financial cushion or need to develop high levels of self-reliance and self-discipline. (wikipedia.org)
Believe it or not, I shortened this up a little bit. In a nutshell – Digital Nomads work from their laptops (anywhere in the world). I love that someone added the last sentence (100% yes!)
Tourist: A person who is visiting a place for pleasure and interest, especially when they are on vacation. (dictionary.com)
Duh, we know what a tourist is, but had to include this for sake of demonstration.
Every person I meet ask the same questions. It’s a variation of “So, are you visiting? Do you live here? Do you work here? Where do you live?”
I honestly still have not mastered a beautifully articulate way to respond to these questions. It’s kind of a stumbling conversation that leaves the other person a bit mystified. This is not my goal, I wish I could use the words “Yes, I’m a Digital Nomad” and the other person would totally get it. But that’s just not the case, I guess there just isn’t enough of us out there yet so people just aren’t familiar with the lifestyle.
Traveling Slow
What I usually am able to articulate is the difference of time. A tourist is typically somewhere for a few days or a few weeks at most. I’m typically in one place for months.
The biggest difference I’ve experienced is having a deep feeling that the current place I am in, is my home. In my opinion, this feeling may only be achieved by traveling slow.
Slow travel means that you’re not hopping around to a bunch of touristy spots every few days. Traveling slow means staying in most places for as long as your tourist visa allows. Some places this is 30-days and in others, it’s 180+. So as a nomad, I treat it as such.
Personally, for me, I found that stopping by a touristy city for anything less than 3 days is just a complete waste. I’m spending more of my time traveling to & fro than getting to really check things out. I did this so many times in the past. The first places that come to mind are Paris, Brussels, and Barcelona. I think I would have enjoyed those in-between destinations a lot more if I would have spent at least 3 days. For me to really see what a city or town is really like, I prefer to spend a minimum of 2 weeks. After a week or two, I’ve made up my mind that I want to stay or carry on. If I love the place and if I can stay 3-months+, even better! After a stay of 1 month in the same neighborhood, I feel as though I’ve lived there.
How to spot a tourist trap
I don’t frequent touristy or over-rated spots. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve traveled to many of the most photogenic wonders of the world, but when I do, I’m typically disappointed on how the tourism has transformed the atmosphere and I’m generally pretty annoyed.
There are places that might seem cool, but you’ll shortly realize they’re tourist traps. The easiest way to tell – look around to see if there are any locals. If not, it’s likely a tourist trap.
You’ll want to go to touristy places, don’t get me wrong. It’s like going to Paris and avoiding the Eiffel Tower. Come on now, of course you’re going to check it out! There’s nothing wrong with this, but you can be mindful.
Before I started traveling full time, I would go on vacations, just like anyone else. Every single place I’ve been in the world, there’s been an opportunity for me (as a tourist) to exploit the local animals or people. Depending on where you go and how touristy the place is, you’ll likely see it for yourself. You may have even done some of these things thinking it was harmless. This is totally understandable and I’m not in any way trying to demonize or sit on some high horse of ethics and morals.
I’d like to just explain how the way of thinking and behavior is different between a tourist and a nomad. Take swimming with dolphins for example. If you’re thinking only about yourself, this seems like a great idea. Swim around with dolphins, pet them, enjoy the magnificant creatures they are. But, are you thinking about their captivity? Are you thinking about the energy exchange to removing animals from the wild, keeping them captive and farming them for our entertainment? Is it worth it?
Okay, you might know better than to swim with dolphins. Let’s use another example, elephant ‘sanctuaries.’ There are legitimate animal sanctuaries all over the world where people are doing good and helping endangered animals and species. But come on people, do your due diligence and don’t be so selfish to make it sound okay in your head and hop on the back of elephants to ride around in a “sanctuary” or think that you’ve just paid $50 to free a helpless little baby turtle to the ocean in Bali that wouldn’t otherwise be there.
I know I sound like Debbie Downer here, but I have to talk about one more – human zoos. Yes, this is a real thing. People travel from all over the world to see the Long Neck Village in Thailand. Just don’t.
PS – If you have been to any of these places mentioned above or any other animal/person objectivity form of entertainment and it wasn’t what I’m thinking it is. Please contact me and enlighten me. I don’t like to be judgemental of things I haven’t experienced, so I’m open to hearing others who have.
Treat where ever you are like home
Nomads treat the community they’re currently in as their home. Like it’s your small town you’re going to have to face the people in your community year after year (you treat everyone as if they’re going to go report it back to your mom) & you wave to everyone (as if you know everyone on a first name’s basis).
- Be nice – I don’t care what’s happened to you or what kind of day you’re having. Treat people you’re interacting with as if it’s the last time you’re going to see them. You might be the only *insert your nationality/race/hair color (whatever)* that they might ever meet. Do you really want to leave a crappy impression?
- Build understanding & respect cultural differences – Just because it’s different doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
I don’t litter. I never have and if you know me, you know that if I see a piece of trash on the ground, I pick it up. In all fairness, I’ll pick up change as well. Shoot, it adds up! But it’s just mind-boggling to me when I see someone actively littering. Some people think it’s not a big deal to throw a cigarette butt or a candy wrapper on the ground. Or, some might say to themselves “Oh, I’m creating jobs”. Lessen your footprint – If the world is your home, you wouldn’t dare cause it harm.
Experiencing The Moment
Nomads experience the moment, instead of being concerned with capturing the best photo for Instagram. I at times wonder about this personally, am I either 1) super present in the moment, so not concerned with photos, posting on social, etc. etc.? or 2) Am I beginning to take travel and experiences for granted? My partner and I often tell each other we need to take more photos or “damn, we were at that super cool spot, remember? Wish we would have taken a photo”. So I still struggle with the whole photo thing. But, all that being said, I swear, there’s been too many times that I can even count that I’ve been at a bar, night market, or nice restaurant and people watching…because hey, it’s one of my favorite things in the world (lol), and can’t help but notice people, likely on their vacation, SOOO concerned with taking a photo. They’re not even experiencing the moment.
I was in Koh Samui, Thailand once at the Fisherman’s Village night market. My boo and I were having a glass of wine (a not so great red, but I enjoyed it anyway), at a bar on a busy corner of the market with live music every Friday. We scored a seat in the outdoor barstool area that looks out into the market crowd (perfect people-watching). To the right of us was a lady dishing out homemade coconut ice cream, she was serving it up in cute little halved coconut shells and had some fixings you could dress up your three scoops anyway you’d like.
Two young women made a purchase of one order of ice cream, dressed it up deliciously and I thought, oh how nice they’re going to share…and was reminded how I wish my boo would share with me so I wouldn’t have to eat 3 scoops of ice cream all on my own. But then was reminded there’s a good reason we don’t share, we’re like two puppies at mealtime fighting over every bite. It never works out. Anyway, back the young ladies.
I quickly noticed an immediate photoshoot of the ice cream. My eyes began to roll, thinking goodness sakes just eat it already it’s going to melt in this 60% humidity. But nope, they just kept on and on, taking turns with the lovely desert to snap the perfect angle. Then after what felt like an hour, but was probably about 5 minutes or so, one of the ladies walked over to a trash can and threw the ice cream away. Without even tasting it.
I was shocked. I was appalled. Maybe this is an extreme example of tourism and thirst for social media attention. To purchase ice cream, just to take a picture then throw it out? Maybe not, maybe this happens more often than we think it does. Maybe people are going to the top of a hiking viewpoint, just for a picture (not really enjoying the natural beauty). I’ve seen this at national parks, all. the. time. Or going to restaurants, entertainment venues, concerts, on and on…but not really enjoying the event, show, experience. Just there to say “look at me!” “I’m here and I’m worthy”.
Hey, I’m not shitting on tourists. I am one too! I think tourists can learn a lot from nomads and our style of traveling…slow & deliberate.