One of the things I love about travel is how it frees me to become someone else for a while. Not that I completely abandon my tastes and sensibilities, but I do many things I wouldn’t dream of on home base. I bet it’s the same for a lot of people. It’s like you take a little vacation from yourself when you’re away from home. Here are some things I would never have done if not for travel.
Adventure Activities
I’m an athletic person. I work out religiously and walk and bike instead of drive whenever I can. I’m not really a physical risk taker, though. Unless, I’m travelling. Even though I often feel anxious beforehand, something about being in a foreign place allows me to take the risk.
From white water rafting in Costa Rica, zip lining in Panama to paddling over falls and through rapids on the Moho River in Belize, I’ve lived to tell the tale and whisper to myself, “I can’t believe I did that.”
Smoke
I hate anything to do with smoking. I really find it completely unappealing. But, I had to try a cigar in Cuba (Who knew you’re not supposed to inhale? My throat burned for hours) and I also went to a late night hookah bar in Miami once.
Channelling Fidel Castro. It’s all in the eyebrows.
Witness a Cock Fight
I’m not proud of this one, but when we took a tour of the countryside in Cuba, we didn’t realize that one stop was to a cock fight. I debated staying in the van or outside the venue, but in the end, I went inside and watched for a bit. It was awful. I guess if nothing else, it was reaffirming to have firsthand exposure to something I’m opposed to. Still, why did I do it in the first place?
Haggle
I’m sure there are places one can haggle in Canada, but I’ve never done it. It used to make me very uncomfortable when visiting markets in Europe or Asia. Thanks to the process of immersion, I have no qualms about it now when travelling. In fact, when we recently visited the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, I had to remind myself that haggling over an extra few dollars was ridiculous at a certain point.
Spend Money Foolishly
I try not to do this when travelling, but it happens. Somehow, because you’re travelling, it doesn’t sting so much. Opera tickets we couldn’t afford to the Met in New York (it was actually it to see Placido Domingo) or sky high gouging for two Singapore Sling cocktails at Raffles Hotel in Singapore (so not worth it), sometimes my usual frugality goes out the window when I’m somewhere else.
Total for two Singapore Slings at Raffles? More than $60 CAD!
Take Unsafe Transportation
I always use my seatbelt when driving in North America. I never cycle without wearing a helmet. But, there we were in a taxi in Panama that had a door that wouldn’t close completely unless you held it shut and a driver that appeared to be on a suicide mission. Meh … what’s the worst that could happen?
Same goes for this tuk-tuk experience in Bengaluru, India. I wonder how many people die in tuk-tuk accidents annually?
Embrace Unfamiliar Hygiene Rituals
Our first trip to Europe many years ago exposed me to the bidet, which I had never used before. I used it. Regularly. I’ve never felt disadvantaged at home for not having one, but when presented with a bidet, I would never contemplate not using one. Strange.
I could not get enough of the toilets in Tokyo. I mean, wow! I found myself seeking out the facilities any new place I found myself in to see if there were any features I hadn’t yet experienced. Heated seats, variously angled cleaning sprays, dryers, deodorizers … they were like amusement park rides! I usually don’t discuss my restroom experiences, but when I got back home I was telling anyone who would listen, and now I’m telling you! The Japanese have got it going on when it comes to toilets.
How about you? Is there anything you’ve done on vacation that you would never do at home? Keep it clean, this is a G-rated blog. 😉
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Interesting idea of being someone just a little different when we travel. Perhaps it has to do with being aware from the stresses and concerns of normal day-to-day life. I don’t do the adventure activities at home or when I travel. And I don’t like haggling, but I am more likely to spend money frivolously and to pamper myself a little more.
Yes, I’m more indulgent too when travelling, but I also do take on a slightly different persona. Maybe it’s just me!