The premise of this article is as follows.
Increase the amount of time and number of times you interact with the local area
≒
don’t touch the internet
01.Avoid gathering information before leaving your country
Visiting a country or city for the first time is full of expectations and anxiety. When it comes to traveling, you want to visit various places. Nowadays, with the spread of the Internet, it has become possible to easily obtain a variety of information. If you try to gather information in advance, you will probably know the details.
If that happens, what you learn locally will no longer be a surprise. It will be more enjoyable if you don’t make it a trip to check the information you have gathered in advance. Because it’s a short trip, I don’t just aim for efficiency, but I also want to collect information on the ground and make it a trip where I can feel the local experience.
02.Bring cash, no credit/cash card
Nowadays, the number of places where you can pay by credit card has increased dramatically. The advantage is that there is no need to pay in the local currency, and you can conveniently pay without setting a budget.
However, even if you are in a new country and don’t know the prices, you need to be willing to try living within your budget. If you pay in cash, you will be more sensitive to local prices.
If you know the local price range, you can compare it with your own country and experience what life is like.
03.Touch and think for yourself on site
I want to look up information on the internet to make my trip more efficient. There is almost unlimited information on the internet, so you will find whatever information you want to know.
Information on the Internet is more accurate and safer. However, if I am there, I would like to experience it myself and think about it.
As a specific method,
- Minimize the use of guides and tours
Even if you don’t know the area, you can learn more efficiently by relying on people who know about the area or using tours that are set up as assets, but it’s more fun to investigate with your own feet and hands. - Avoid researching on the internet while traveling
Using the Internet, you can obtain almost unlimited information. However, I feel that I can learn more about the place by investigating and confirming it with my own eyes. - Use the means of transportation used by local people
I would like to avoid using taxis and ride-hailing apps (ex. Uber) and instead use local buses and rental bicycles. Between your current location and your destination, you’ll see the unique lifestyle of each region, so it’s a good trip to explore on foot or by bus.
