16 Comments

  1. Next time I return to the UK, I will… | L O G O
    February 15, 2015 @ 7:56 am

    […] gone by and I was on a race to tick every item off my ‘To-Do’ list. Maybe I was just trying too hard, […]

  2. Taking it slow versus Seeing things properly - Grounded Traveler
    May 31, 2013 @ 10:26 am

    […] seems to come down to the fear of “missing something”. That we are so frightened to miss out on a sight. To hear the “so you were in X and didn’t see Y? Such a shame.” And yet, how […]

  3. Announcing Beyond Vacation 2013 - Grounded Traveler
    April 2, 2013 @ 7:26 pm

    […] adsorb the lifestyle and culture in a few weeks. Often if you try, you end up going too fast and trying to see too much and end up more tired than you […]

  4. Aaron @ Aaron's Worldwide Adventures
    February 14, 2011 @ 2:55 am

    I totally agree with you! I recently spent 2 months traveling around China, and what did I see? With the exception of Hong Kong (where I flew into from the US) and Shanghai (where I returned to the US), I didn’t see anything most people would’ve ever heard of. In fact, in two months I only saw 3 provinces that I moved through very slowly, soaking up the environment. Did I have visions of grander plans? Sure! But I ditched them in favor of exploring some more unusual places. The Great Wall and the Army of Terracotta Warriers will always be there for next time! But will those remote places be the same? Probably not…

    • Andrew
      February 14, 2011 @ 7:01 pm

      Two months in the “backlands” of China sounds interesting. Do you speak Chinese? How did you do research on those places? And I thought the Chinese government was a bit strict on visas and movement.
      I agree that the remote places will become even less remote as time goes on. Although the monuments will not always be there forever either. Every step of a tourist affects the monuments in their own ways. Through commercialization or just wear on ancient ruins.

      • Aaron @ Aaron's Worldwide Adventures
        February 19, 2011 @ 5:27 am

        No, I don’t speak any Chinese, which makes travel just about anywhere in China very hard (in a good way…). Hand signals do go very far (like for food or sleep) and everyone seems to know the word “toilet.” But the single hardest thing I had to do without speaking the language was buying a refill for my SIM card in Shanghai nonetheless!

        Research was easy…there are travel guides to EVERYWHERE, even areas where few travelers go (thank you Lonely Planet) so a few days roaming through bookstores suffices.

        In theory, Chinese visas let you go just about anywhere, though you cannot go to Tibet without obtaining a special permit and going on an organized tour. They do, on occasion, close other provinces to foreigners when their residents are protesting against the government or when the government thinks they might protest.

        That was actually the case with one of the places I want–the Tibetan areas of Western Sichuan Province, which isn’t actaully Tibet at all, so no permit needed, but it used to be Tibet, so it’s like going to Tibet minus the red tape, were closed to foreigners until a few days prior to my arrival. Thankfully, they reopened after the anniversary of some big Tibetan protest passed uneventfully.

        Chinese visas are QUITE expensive for Americans though–US$130 for any kind of tourist visa. Single, Dobule & Multi entry all cost the same, though your chances of getting a Multi on your first application are slim (I asked for it, ended with a Double cosidering that they’re all the same price).

  5. Quand je retournerai à Londres… | Eurotrip tips
    November 22, 2010 @ 6:26 pm

    […] gone by and I was on a race to tick every item off my ‘To-See’ list. Maybe I was just trying too hard, […]

  6. Next time I return to the UK, I will… « Eurotrip Tips
    November 15, 2010 @ 9:11 pm

    […] gone by and I was on a race to tick every item off my ‘To-See’ list. Maybe I was just trying too hard, […]

  7. Lauren
    November 15, 2010 @ 8:17 am

    I think this is a post that many people can relate to. I’ve learned that when you visit another country, it’s not how much you see, but how you see it. Cramming in the “must-dos” is exhausting and overwhelming. Also, you usually have very high expectations of these sights based on others’ opinions. As a result, you’re often disappointed instead of satisfied.On the life front, I also have nights (such as last night) when I can’t sleep because my head is too full. I find that making lists helps and once I get started on accomplishing one of the tasks, it’s a domino affect because I continue to work until it’s finished. Just know that you do have the ability to get every thing done–have some faith and every thing else will fall into place. 🙂

    • Andrew
      November 17, 2010 @ 6:58 pm

      Wow, I avoid lists exactly for that reason. Well I craft my lists special. If a list is too long, I feel I’ll never get it all done and then skip the whole thing. It must hit the sweet spot to be encouraging.
      Nice to know I am not alone in the mind-full = no-sleep thing. Although would be nice to have it gone too.

      My favorite activity traveling is sitting in a pub/ice cream place/cafe and just having cake and a book or watching people. Not so much sight-seeing efficent, but good anyway.

  8. Kerry-Ann
    November 14, 2010 @ 8:13 pm

    Hey Andrew, Thanks for dropping by my site. This is a great post and so guilty of doing this. Another two emotions I could add to the list are ‘guilt’ and frustration! Guilt at never getting my unreasonable list done and frustration at always having lists. Been a travel junkie for a long time now (10 years – that long already??) and learning to take it easy. Explore and experience rather than have a to do list. The funny thing is now that I experience things I enjoy my trips so much more. Instead of just seeing places I come back with an enriched life.

    • Andrew
      November 17, 2010 @ 6:55 pm

      I don’t know exactly how, but I fully imagine that Guilt and Frustration can also be linked to a Fear.
      Glad you enjoyed the post. I think a lot of us do this, both in life and travel trying to push too much in one direction and miss everything going by in the meantime.

  9. Lisa E @chickybus
    November 14, 2010 @ 2:00 pm

    I totally relate to this! On my last trip I tried to cram in a couple days in Lebanon. When I got to Beirut, I was completely exhausted–and this wasn’t good. I then decided to go the the mountains. and underestimated how long it would take and really burned myself out.

    As much as I enjoyed my trip, the final several days were not as good as they could have been because I took on too much. As hard as I try, though, I don’t seem to learn this lesson–especially when the neighboring countries form a region of sorts.

    I like the idea of “slow travel” and really need to find a way to get into that. Thanks for getting me to think about it!

    • Andrew
      November 14, 2010 @ 3:50 pm

      You’re welcome. I hope it helps you. The bullet points I put up are how I try to think about it. If someplace is worth seeing, I’ll come back. If not, then it probably isn’t worth worrying about missing it. Spent time enjoying being in a place, not scrambling.
      Thanks for the comment.

  10. Jen
    November 13, 2010 @ 8:58 am

    Funny, I never went up into the Eiffel Tower, either. I went to Paris with my cousin for a Christmas trip, and we had a hard time finding each other at the base of the tower, and then I stood in a very long line for half an hour and realized it was moving nowhere, and it was dark and so cold and my feet were FREEZING…and then I looked up into the tower above me and thought, really? What’s it worth? It’s just a view and you don’t HAVE to do this! So we left and had dinner instead. 🙂

    Great post…I think the longer I’ve been traveling, the more willing I am to let go of doing too many things. I think somehow you have to train yourself to just let go, enjoy what you have at that moment, and don’t worry about what you’re not seeing. In our recent trip to Malta, I really wanted to go to Gozo, the other island, and there were some museums and churches we wanted to see. We never got around to those things, but I am content with what we did see.

    • Andrew
      November 14, 2010 @ 3:48 pm

      Ha yeah. I like the views OF the Eiffel Tower much better than I can imagine I would like the views FROM there. Good dinner a better choice then?
      Travel should be able enjoying things and yourself in places. Enjoy the present, and let the future take care of itself. Um.. yeah trying to work on that myself.