Becoming Unplugged

Is it possible to see the world without a cell phone in your grips? The answer is, absolutely! Johanne and I have been doing exactly that full time for 4 years and our experiences are likely different than most travellers.

When we travel to places where there are lot’s of tourist, which isn’t often,  it is abundantly clear that the majority of travellers are shuffling around with their attention fixed solidly on their little “devices”. Whatever consumes their attention is unclear to me, but it is pretty obvious they are not particularly interested in experiencing where they are. Travelling the world with their heads down.

It seems that for many travellers, their first concern is where to get a SIM card?  The addiction of being perpetually connected is real. We love being un-tethered!

“Travel releases spontaneity”

Francis Mayes

Seeing the World Unplugged:

There are many different motives people have for travelling. I guess we have been doing it long enough that our motivation is different than most. I am really not too interested in having my picture taken in front of the Eiffel Tower (never actually been there).

I want to see how life unfolds for people that inhabit this planet. I want to hear their language, sample their food, see how they interact, listen to their music. Johanne and I also love to get out into the natural world and see the marvels of the jungle fist hand.

So TripAdvisor* really isn’t our thing. We are happy to make our own discoveries, not just follow along on some else’s vacation.

This might happen to you:

Recently we we in a very small village in Mexico and slightly bored. Suddenly Johanne said “I hear music”, so we head out to the street and follow the lively sounds. A procession was forming, it was the day that marked the village’s Patron Saint Sebastian. The band was getting warmed up with horns and drums, a great tuba bellowed out. Food was being shared around and everyone was in the mood. We followed the parade as it meandered through the streets ending up on the steps of the cathedral. The inside of the church was the most amazing display of flowers we have ever seen. It was awash floor to ceiling in brilliant colours and aromas. By now most of the town had gathered and Mass began. We sat outside and watched the comings and goings of the community. At the end of the service 4 dancers appeared in full Aztec regalia and marched straight into the church. The ritual that proceed was unworldly! The church was full of smoke, it was bathed in a dark red haze,the drums thundered and feathered plumes waved about. The dancers we entranced. The mysterious, magical ceremony being  performed, dated back maybe 500 years. Best of all we had front row seats and were the only non locals there! This is what unplugged can get you.

Where we stay:

Our youth hostel days are well behind us. Old bones require a certain level of comfort  so we do pre-book our accommodation. We will ask like-minded friends for their tips but mostly we rely booking.com which has worked well so far.

When we get there:

We love to wander around, get a feel for the place. Find those colourful alleys.

• ask at the hotel if there are unsafe areas
• make sure you have the name and address of your hotel clearly written down
• pick out landmarks, usually the church or cathedral  is the center of town, make it your benchmark
• listen for music, see where local people hang out, be brave
• find a park bench allow things to happen as they will
• search out the local market, because that is where life unfolds – sample everything
• a great nomadic friend of ours says “ask for forgiveness not permission” sometimes we just walk in like we own the place!

(Some places are just impossible for wandering, Fez comes to mind, get a guide, we did).

“I am a big believer in winging it. You are never going to find a perfect city travel experience or a perfect meal without constant willingness to experience a bad one”

                 Anthony Bourdain

Where we eat:

One of our greatest joys of travelling is experiencing local cuisine. Many of our best memories evolve around a unique meal that we discovered.

Tips to finding a great restaurant:

If you are in the main square of a city or town and you see a place that is full of tourist, that ain’t it! It will likely have an America style menu and will be grossly overpriced. (likely well rated on TP).

Start walking, the further you get from el centro the better. Find the places that are busy with local people and don’t be shy.

Follow your nose, point and ask questions, a few words of the local language always helps.

The Benefits:

• you will support local businesses that might not otherwise get much
• you can save a lot of money
• you will awaken your sense of adventure
• you will exercise your sense of awareness (eyes wide open)
• you will create your own memories and you can share them with others
• self discovery can be so rewarding

Could you do this?:

So is being unplugged without constant connectivity for everyone? Certainly not, but maybe it is worth a try now and then.  Find out what unfolds when you just let it.

For a new experience try turning off  Tripadvisor, leave your device at home!

Take your smile with you and go find your own gems.

Resources:

Where to Stay Travelers by Travalers

*What is Wrong with TripAdvisor?