Five Things I Forget When I Travel

written on April 8th, 2014 by Riezl Manatad

The way you travel always has something to do with your personality. Some plan so much before their trip, others just want to let things happen as they go. There’s no better option. People are just different.

Despite this difference, there are a few things we can agree on. For many of us, as soon as we hit the road, we do as much as we can with what little time we have.

I tend to be that way. Whether it is to relax as much as possible or to experience as much as possible, I fill up my trips to the brim.

Because of this, I tend to forget a few things.

Below are the top five things I forget when I travel:

1) That book I expect to catch up on. I expect to have all the time in the world to relax, either on the beach or in the corner of a rented cottage. But no matter how I push myself to do it, I always end up doing something else. It’s tough to get lost in the words of a book if you’re out and about in another world through travel.

2) Fill out that journal to remember my travels. This is no joke. There are many times I ended up broken hearted when I looked at my journal after a trip. I realized that my thoughts after a sudden realization in the most peculiar time of my journey are nowhere to be found. Travel is inspiration. Sometimes brilliant ideas pop up. You ought to scribble it down or else it’ll end up in the land of nowhere.

3) Take plenty of photos… not just selfies. Have you ever gone on a trip and realized that all the photos are of you? But who can blame you for doing a lot of selfie photos while on the road? I try to remind myself that my photos might win a photo contest without me in it.

4) Check the dress code. There are times I feel like a celebrity when I travel. It’s probably because I really look like a tourist. It is so easy to spot another tourist. How? Through their fashion style! Feel free to wear anything comfortable, but be mindful of what people wear in certain areas. There are certain places in the world where what you are wearing will signal to the locals your apathy towards their country.

5) Traveling isn’t always about getting what I want. There are many instances when traveling has showed me that there is more to the world than tourist spots. It can also be an opportunity to give back. Try befriending a local. Ask who needs help in their country. Or visit a non-profit organization that provides livelihood to a particular community. Try it! You’ll be amazed at the endless possibilities to give back.

Regardless of what type of a traveler you are, there are going to be things you will forget. What do you forget the most when you travel?