I consider myself to be a pretty good writer. I mean, I almost won a free trip to Sri Lanka recently, for crying out loud! (But then again, second and last have a lot in common...)
Which is why I try to stay away from tacky, click bait-y headlines about what you can do with "this one trick." I've got integrity, man.
BUT! I'm making an exception today because I've already saved hundreds of dollars with this one trick -- and you can, too.
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World Nomads recently asked travelers to share their favorite Travel Discovery. I had to think about this a bit. I've had so many amazing travel experiences, from beach camping in Baja to living semi-nomadically in the Australian outback to hitchhiking to a Rolling Stones concert in Budva, Montenegro... how do you pick just one?
But here is one specific moment that stood out to me. It's about throwing your plans into the wind, trusting your gut, and how feeling alone is one problem I've never had while traveling alone. The best advice I could possibly give anyone... is to do what I did in Korcula, Croatia.
I did an anthropology research trip in the Great Sandy Desert in Fall 2007. On the last night of the trip, I was eating my last meal with Desmond, a Martu man with whom I had spent the last few weeks hunting, sharing dreamtime stories and discussing Aboriginal culture. And he looked up at me and said, "Eva, you are my sister, and I am your brother."
Nothing he said could have moved me more. It was a moment I will never forget, and I hope the following story will help explain why. ***
"You see that?" Desmond asks quietly as he adjusts the gun on his shoulder.
Whether traveling alone or with friends, many people travel to have an authentic cultural experience. And while the idea of talking to and having adventures with lots of strangers can be daunting, making friends when you travel is actually pretty easy. Here's how: 1. Do What You Do At Home While You Travel. You'll have plenty of time to interact with locals when you're buying stuff from them or paying them for a tour. But if you want to make the interaction more authentic, try doing something you're already good at, something you'd do anyway, with them. For me, this often means basketball or volleyball. As I wrote in this post:
This happens to be one of my favorite basketball courts ever.
As I recently wrote in The Best and Most Beautiful Resort in Cabo... Is Free: Beach Camping in Baja, the best possible place to stay on your trip to Cabo is on the beach. For free. You will be treated to a perfect night sky
Believe it or not, the moon was nearly full the night Justin took this photo -- but the moon set around 2am, and Justin had the chance to capture this beauty.
A while back, someone on Quora asked,
How do I celebrate my birthday when I am all alone in my life?
Here's my answer:
Take a solo vacation. At 27, the best possible trip you could do is probably a solo one (probably especially if you're traveling while female). You'll meet tons of new people every day -- trust me. (If you're concerned about your social skills and/or ability to meet new people, I'd recommend reading The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism before you go. It'll teach you skills you can use personally and professionally to attract and connect with more people.) If you're afraid of being lonely when you travel alone, don't be! A three-hour friendship with someone you meet while traveling can feel more meaningful than a convenient one you have with coworkers and neighbors.
Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy, but here's my scooter... hop on the back and go to an amazingly beautiful place with me maybe?
Why It's Better to do Half Dome in January (or at least October), and Intro to Ice Block Sailing9/15/2014 I've done Half Dome more times than I can remember. It's an amazingly beautiful 18-ish-mile hike in Yosemite National Park, and everyone who can (and almost everyone can, with an early enough start) should do it at least once. This will be your reward. But Eva, you might be thinking, It's hard to get a permit! I can't do Half Dome without a permit!
There's simple solution to the permit problem. Go during the off-season, shoulder season or whatever you want to call the months of October-March. You know -- the times when you don't need a permit. Check the conditions first, obviously -- you probably don't want to do Half Dome in a blizzard, or run into unexpected road closures or anything. But if it looks like the weather's going to cooperate, there's no good reason not to go during the cooler months. But Eva, you may be wondering, Aren't the cables down October-March? Astute observation. The cables will be down -- but they will still be there. |
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Eva is a content specialist with a passion for play, travel... and a little bit of girl power. Read more >
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