One of my favorite things about traveling is learning where to REALLY travel. It seems that there is a whole group of people floating about our world, traveling with no particular end in sight. The reasons and places they've been are as different as the day is long.
Most of the other travelers we've met are ridiculously friendly. There is no catch. They want nothing from you except your company. Last night Erik and I were having some tea before bed, and we met a girl named Jenhta. She was from NY, U.S. and had a life story that you makes you hang on to EVERY WORD. When the intonation gets lower and it seems as though a sentence might be over, you can't help but almost say 'AND THEN WHAT!'. Accompanying her was her friend, Hugh. Also from the United States, he'd been in China for the last two years, and was considering signing another two year contact. There stories were so different, yet so open.
It's hard to explain. I'd say the closest thing is when you're sitting next to someone on an airplane. You know you'll never see them again, and they'll never see you, so you let it rip. You discuss, and ask, and probe with questions and details that might be taboo in a normal first acquaintance scenario. But when you're traveling, it's okay, because almost everyone is on the same playing field. So people come right out and ask, 'how do you afford 6 months?','does it ever get hard the two of you being together all the time?', 'how can you leave for China for two years and how does your family take it?'.. all of these questions that you'd certainly THINK when having a conversation now become real time play.
So you get the 0-60 in an hour. You make an intense bond. Sometimes you'll spend days with the person. They'll go places with you, and nothing will be off limits. The questions they feel comfortable asking within the first hour take some people months and years to utter... and let me tell you, it is the most REFRESHING type of relationship EVER.
Nothing to lose,only to gain... and it will most likely be a friendship. Even for a moment. They've entered your life and are imparting something on your day/ your week/ your trip that is so unique and interesting and indirectly/directly applicable to yourself. It really shows you that every person you encounter is a gift.
And.... they unload the goods on you. The coveted thing you search your WHOLE trip for..
The 'Well, don't tell too many people... but there's this place....'
CHA-CHING.
It's this thing between long term travelers, like a pact. You share the 'must dos' and the 'skip these' and the 'go heres'.. it's as if someone took a 37,000 hit google search and did all the research for you.
"Oh, you're going out for some grub? .. Go here, it's local.. it'll cost you 4 U.S. or 5 U.S."
or, today for instance "You're here an extra day? That's cool, have you thought of going to x? It's only 20 minutes out of town by bus, a 4 U.S. bus ticket, and you'll LOVE it. It's a small mountain town with all locals. You gotta go"... would we have EVER found that? No, absolutely not. But after I finish writing this, I'm putting on my warmest clothes and going to a mountain town for a day... pretty darn cool
A neat perk of being nomadic.
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