There are always periods in our life when we are not able to travel as we’d hope for. Whether it be due to current career goals, family commitments, lack of available funds or possibly health reasons. Whatever the reason or combination of reasons, we generally come to accept the reason why we cannot travel, knowing we’ll return to travel when we can once again. Even when a global pandemic is thrown our way!
At some stage during COVID, the majority of countries across the globe have been in lockdown one time or another to combat the spread of the virus. Which is understandable, yet frustrating for people who have a passion for travelling, being told they cannot travel, rather than having the choice whether they travel or not.
Being one of these people who has a passion and desire for travel, I felt the impact of being locked down, and being restricted to one place. Although I’ve realised there are methods of travelling without physically travelling.
Travelling without physically travelling…. you’re thinking huh?!
Now I’m not saying these outlets have the same feeling of travelling, yet they do help fill the void to a degree whilst not being able to physically travel.
Watch Travel Themed Movies
Movies have a way of captivating the viewer and taking them away from their day to day life, even if it’s for a matter of 120 minutes. The viewer is transported along the journey in a movie, it’s not purely watching people on a screen, it’s being absorbed in the story line, listening to the accents of people talking, seeing the scenery environments, witnessing different cultures and traditions, as well as various interests and topics. Great movies are emotive. Draw up a list of travel themed movies and start to watch them one week at a time, or binge quite a few all in one sitting with your snacks by your side!
Examples: Wild, The Beach, Out of Africa, The Motorcycle Diaries, The Way, Into the Wild, Thelma & Louise, Tracks, Encounters at the End of the World, Amelie, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Catch Me if you Can, Under the Tuscan Sun, The Darjeeling Limited, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Farewell.
Watch Documentaries from your Favourite Destinations
You don’t need to be a Sir David Attenborough admirer to watch docos, although admittedly he does have the best tone to narrate docos, with his distinctive gentle voice is very captivating. No matter what your interest, desired topic, or choice of destinations, there are a variety of documentary subject matters available to fulfil your craving. Whether they are on; cities, food, trekking, wildlife, environment, the list is endless.
Examples: Baraka, Samsara, Life in a Day, Jack Whitehall Travels with my Father, Dark Tourist, A Map for Saturday, Pedal the World, Virunga, Expedition Happiness, Sacred Planet, The Dawn Wall, James May Our Man in Japan, plus anything from Anthony Bourdain, Banff Mountain Film Festivals and of course Sir David Attenborough.
Research Your Next Destinations
Being an avid traveller, you’ll likely have a bucket list of destinations to visit over your lifetime, so work your way through the list, researching each location. I find research itself contributes to the fulfilment of travel, it puts you in the travel frame of mind and boosts your spirits as if you are about to head on your next journey.
Research on activities you can partake in at the destination, are there particular accommodation places or styles you should try that are out of the norm, are there certain dates for festivals you want to attend, what local customs do you need to consider, can you reach out to locals prior to arriving for local insights of places to visit. The research list is endless, even simply looking at images of a destination can give you motivation and inspire you to research further than you originally expected.
Follow Social Media Pages
The list of social media pages and sites themed towards travel is endless and always growing. It’s easy to lose yourself for hours at a time, even a full day scrolling and still have not have caught up with all the posts. Following a few pages across various social media streams (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest etc) will help inspire you during the times you’re not able to travel. It will help boost your mood and remind you why you adore travelling. Try targeting a specific destination or topic, or even generic pages for inspiration to add to your travel bucket list.
Examples: traveltheworld, traveldeeper, Best Destinations to Travel, The Adventure Bucket List, National Geographic Travel, I Want to Travel the Whole World, Thrillist Travel, Travel Quotes, Amazing Places to Visit.
Read Books / Listen to Travel Audiobooks
Whether you opt for reading old-school books or listen to audiobooks, it’s still the same general format. The text or audio is given to you as the reader/listener, then you interpret and imagine the rest based on the plot, language, tone to name a few. Books and audiobooks can be a novel or nonfiction style, so depending on what you fancy on the day, both can serve a useful purpose.
Examples: The Art of Travel, The Alchemist, Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel, In a Sunburned Country, The Geography of Bliss, Eat Pray Love, Lands of Lost Borders: A Journey on the Silk Road, A Woman Alone: Travel Tales from Around the Globe, On the Road, The Beach, Pocket Atlas of Remote Islands.
Read Travel Articles and Subscribe to Publications
Prior to social media were the days of newspapers and magazines, old school media, which is still around these days! You can stay up to date with the latest travel news, either in your home country or elsewhere on the globe, from travel news sites, subscribe to specific travel publications, even purchase a print magazine every now and then.
Examples: National Geographic, Lonely Planet, Matador Network, Travel + Leisure, AFAR, Roads and Kingdoms, Travel Weekly, Mashable.
Hopefully these ideas inspire you to keep your travel passion and momentum going, whilst you’re not physically travelling, yet can fulfill that travel itch, even if for a short moment in time.
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