Why Do I Travel? - To See Monuments? To Meet New Friends Around The World?

Nothing woos you like the view of the Eiffel Tower, The Obelisk of Buenos Aires or even awe of The Taj Mahal. These are amazing places to visit with amazing views for any tourist to see. I know why I travel. Although I have awed at the Red Fort and dropped my Jaw at Zipaquira Salt Cathedral, most of my time spent at these places were with my friends. These friends who had invited me to their home country and show me their life and culture. I travel to meet new friends from all around the world.

Cruces En Zipaquierá Salt Cathedral - Bogotá

Short Stories In Manila

As I had mentioned before, I like meeting people. Visiting monuments is just a reflection of who the people are and their culture. But to really get to know a country is to get to know the people. What do I mean by that? I can tell you that I know people who have seen the Walls of the fortifide Intramuros an Rizal Park in Manila. Why see Manila like everyone else does? Two different friends of mine showed me a great time. One who showed me the college life and what college students do for fun in Manila, which mostly consisted of eating all night long and dancing. This was a way different than seeing the tourist sites.

Another other friend took me to the poor streets of Wagas in Manila to meet her cousin and show me how the life is there. It was very mind opening to eat in a cluttered back room of a store where a family of 4 fed me out of the goodness of their own heart. The streets around were filled with people whose bed was the street itself and people came to say hi every time some came to buy something at the shop. It was… warming.

Other Experiences

This did not just happen in Manila, but also in Bogotá where a friend took me to a Festival where we got to experience Colombian youths partying all night. Enjoying Kashmiri tea during tea time with a friend and his family in Srinagar was a relaxing pleasure. And experiencing a sandstorm in a family’s unfinished home in Jammu was something new to experience.

Pretty Kashmiri Eye After some Kashmiri Tea - Srinagar

Where The Friend Ring Started

If it was not for the friends who introduced me to another friend when traveling, these experiences would have never happened. But how did it start? To tell you the truth, it started in chat rooms, a technology that seems to be dying. I visited a travel chat room where others would have meet ups and show visitors their home cities. These chatters eventually became friends of mine, who in turn introduced me their friends who loved to show off their home country and city. In turn I show around others who wanted to visit San Francisco or taste wine in Sonoma/Napa Valley. The only invested I had to do in this, was time to get to know people.

Now instead of going to Bali to trying to find an overprice place to stay, I can lay on the couch of my friend (although I prefer my own bed). Instead of worrying about my ability to speak Korean, I can rely on my friend in Busan who is happy being a personal translator and show what to eat and not to eat. The secluded white sand island that only locals know in Leyte, Philippines is a place my friend Jessa has been wanting to show me for a while now.

My Friend Gazes Across The Water

Some Tips Making Friends

Why am I telling you this? Yes it is nice to see the Obelisk in Buenos Aires, but even better with a local friend who will show you how to get double the exchange rate for US dollars. It is by reaching out of that comfort zone and just making a friend. How do you do this?

Say hello
Ask for help or the time.
Ask where a good place to eat is.
Ask directions somewhere.
Ask them where they like to go for fun.

These are great ways to start a conversation. What next?

Offer a beer/drink/water.
Offer to buy them a dinner at their favorite place.
Offer to share a taxi/ride.
Cook a dinner.
Teach them something you know well.

These are just some ideas on starting a conversation with your friend you know from abroad or a new friend you just meet in the city you are exploring. You would be amazed how much people love talking about their favorite places and how much they want to show it off to you. Take them up on it and enjoy the ride.

Conclusion

So travel, not to meet the monuments, but to meet the people, that is how you are going to enjoy tea time in Kashmir, or a festival in Colombia or secluded island in Philippines. Make friends who will want to share their world with you.

So are there places where you meet some amazing friends? Would love to hear those stories so we can share them with others. Leave a comment below, send me a tweet on twitter using #pathlesstravels, or post on my facebook. Heck even send us a message. Let me know, we want to share your outrageous stories with others. Happy travels

Erick Redcloud

A partially blind Graphic Designer, Freelance Travel Photographer, Artist, Buddhist and Vegetarian who loves to travel. Erick loves traveling by being with the locals and going off the beaten path. He is the founder and owner of Pathlesstravels and loves inspiring others to follow their dreams, whether it is to travel or something completely different. He started Pathlesstravels to hone is photography skills and to meet amazing people, and to help a friend break into journalism. Check out his photography at his link.