It’s 2018. Vipul, a 20-something sophomore student was on his first international trip to Boston. He checks into a hostel in the city after a grueling 24-hour hackathon. He looks up at the reception and there is a quote embossed in big letters. This quote changes his purpose behind traveling. It said:
“Be a traveler, rather than a tourist.”
Let’s goto X is my new series on Mixster in an attempt to enable people to do just that.
Who is a traveler?
There are definitions and there are debates around this topic. But, here’s my take.
A traveler “lives” in new places for a period of time. During their stay, they go beyond the conventional activities performed by groups of people. Interacting with citizens, learning the language, and understanding the social-culture fabric that binds communities together with unspoken rules. Covering every special point in an area holds less interest for them and they are driven by the simple rewards of meeting people, learning new skills, and building relations.
Before this, I traveled for the sake of traveling. But since then, I have tried to build my life around it. Professionally, I work remotely with a side benefit: I can work from anywhere in the world. Financially, I find myself checking out trips more frequently than mutual funds. Personally, I make friends easily and travel solo. I am humbled to have had the opportunity in life to be a traveler more times than I have been a tourist.
I recognize the privilege and it has been a good life.
This will be where I will be documenting my trips from now on. I am not a travel influencer (yet) and don’t intend to be just yet. My purpose behind documenting trips is for myself to relive them whenever I want to. If they end up helping someone else, then I consider it a win-win.
“Let’s goto X” is my new series on Mixster which documents my travel to places around the world. No, Mixster is not pivoting into a travel influencer blog disturbing the peace with constant posts about “7 places to go this fall” But, my aim is to provide an opinionated take on the trip I just took. And, how you can do it.
The documented version of these trips is meant to provide hidden details, tips, and mistakes that should really aid a person undertaking a similar trip. Hope you have an amazing time on your journey.
I have already concluded my trips for these countries but yet to document them,
- Spain (Coming up)
- Japan
- Morocco
- Tenerife, Canary Islands
- Sri Lanka
- Las Palmas, Spain
- Italy (current trip)
Feel free to comment if you want any help planning your trip from the countries above, and want me to write those blog posts even faster.
[Country Compliance] How to Secure a Year-Long Schengen Visa: What, why and plans!
For the competitive sport that is the Schengen visa applications.
Let’s Goto: Hong Kong for a week, Stage 3 Typhoon, Skylines and Disneyland!
A free trip to Hong Kong, take my money still.
Let’s Goto: Canada for a month. Poutine, places & my people
Canada or Ka-nad-daa, whatever you say – The travel docs are here.
Let’s Goto: backpack Mexico for a month. Freediving, Chichén Itzá, & Mezcal.
Your ultimate guide to backpacking Mexico in a month
Let’s goto: Thailand for a month, scuba diving!
spoiler alert: 30 days weren't enough.
Let’s Goto: Dubai for 10 days. Skydiving, Expo2020, & Abu Dhabi.
Documenting my trip to Dubai of 10 days
Let’s Goto: Kumaon for two weeks. Explore the lesser-known Uttarakhand in peace.
Yet another travel blog that no one will care about. But, YOLO.
[balena] 4 months of full-time remote: Hits, Misses and Infectious Initiative
Lessons learnt, mistakes made as I look back on my months of working remotely & graduating!
I highly recommend following my journey on Instagram, where I do almost daily uploads documenting my trip.
