Westhill Consulting Travel and Tours

Once on a Foreign Land

When staying in a foreign land, there are a lot of things to be worried about. Of course, you are out of your comfort zone and if you have a daily routine that your follow, it would be much worse. Also, difference in language, culture, time zone among all things may just chase you out of the country. Westhill Consulting Travel and Tours have listed some adjustments that you might want to practice when staying in a foreign land.

1. Patience Is Important

Don't sweat the stuff you can't control. Life is much too short to be angry & annoyed all the time. Did you miss your bus? No worries, there will be another one. ATMs out of money? Great! Take an unplanned road trip over to the next town and explore. Sometimes freakouts happen regardless. Just take a deep breath and remind yourself that it could be worse. I was even once lost for more than 8 hrs. outside Jakarta, Indonesia. I walked, waited and got lost again until I found someone who can help me get back to Jakarta. If I gave up easily, I might have been lost altogether.

2. Wake Up Early

Rise at sunrise to have the best attractions all to yourself while avoiding crowds. It's also a magical time for photos due to soft diffused light, and usually easier to interact with locals. Sketchy areas are less dangerous in the morning too. Honest hardworking people wake up early; touts, scammers, and criminals sleep in. You cannot wake up late, and then destroy your day afterwards with complaints that you have missed something.

3. Laugh at Yourself

You will definitely look like a fool many times when traveling to new places. Rather than get embarrassed, laugh at yourself. Don't be afraid to screw up, and don't take life so seriously. You might also find new friends who can laugh with you.

4. Stash Extra Cash

Cash is king around the world. To cover your ass in an emergency, make sure to stash some in a few different places. I recommend at least a couple hundred dollars worth. If you lose your wallet, your card stops working, or the ATMs run out of money, you'll be glad you did. You can stash your extra cash inside your socks or in any place where fraud people cannot know.

5. Meet Local People

Make it a point to avoid other travelers from time to time and start conversations with local people. Basic English is spoken widely all over the world, so it's easier to communicate with them than you might think especially when you combine hand gestures and body language. Learn from those who live in the country you're visiting. People enrich your travels more than sights do.