Is the number more important than the experience?
Does it impress you if I tell you I visited 22 countries so far? Probably not, since there are hundreds of travel bloggers or even some of your friends or family who visited way more. But what if I tell you I’ve already explored 121 places (meaning cities, villages or national parks outside my home country)? More impressed now? I really hope so. Not because of the number, but because that means I actually took the time and effort to explore those 22 countries. With all the bucket lists spreading around the internet and books like 1000 Places to See Before You Die
Visiting a country in 2 days is not how I see traveling
Thankfully there are still people who do take their time. They travel countries for a few weeks or do a tour to explore as much of the country as possible in a certain time frame. Those are the bloggers I like to follow and the people I truly respect for making an effort to get to know a country and its culture. But too many times I see Facebook updates of friends or bloggers who travel to let’s say 7 countries in less than 2 weeks. They’re almost bragging about the number, acting as if it’s a big achievement to have traveled that many countries in such a short period.
Well let me tell you that this kind of traveling doesn’t impress me at all. It’s just ticking off a list. Because yes, they “traveled” to those countries; meaning they took planes and set foot there. But they didn’t really explore and experience these countries at their fullest. How can you explore and enjoy a country in just 2 days? Don’t get me wrong, everyone is free to do as they please, but I just don’t understand how you can enjoy this kind of traveling? (feel free to try to explain in the comments 😉 )
I’m not able to travel that way. My curiosity is just too big. I’m the kind of person that, when making new travel plans, discovers all these gorgeous and interesting places while doing research and then tries to visit them all. I take at least 3 days to explore a city, let alone a whole country! I want to get to know the place as good as possible. When I see Facebook updates like that I’m like “What? You’ve been to that country and you didn’t take the time to visit this and that???”
Don’t make the numbers count, make your experiences count.
Why I’m writing this post? I want to take the pressure of your shoulders. Because there is way too much pressure in our short lives. You only live once (some religions may disagree, and I secretly hope they are right) so you better make the best of it. Don’t make the numbers count (even though nowadays they seem more important). Make your experiences count. The amount of countries you visit in your lifetime isn’t the most important.
When you’re at a place, whether it’s at your house, your town’s beautiful main square, a waterfall or on top of a mountain you’ve always dreamed of climbing; take your time to actually experience it. Enjoy and feel the places you’re going. Speak with the locals, taste the food, travel the roads and see the passing landscapes changing. Visit the cities, the smaller villages, the woods, the beaches, the mountains,… Each country consists of so many different things. If you travel and actually explore and experience a few countries this way, you’ll probably have seen and learned more than the bragger who visited over 50 countries in just 10 years with a yearly amount of 20 to 30 vacation days 😉 .
If you’re interested in more of my personal opinion pieces I suggest to read “Traveling is a talent” and “Why I decided to travel solo“.
This article is just my personal opinion; a piece of my mind. I’m stating nowhere mine is the only right one. I respect everyone’s way of living and traveling! Peace!
I think the only reason to travel quickly through countries is to get an idea of the countries you like the most so you can go back there. Inter-railing in my twenties made pretty clear to me which countries of Europe were to my taste and then I would go back to them, sometimes many times,