Comments on: 4 Ways To Be A Traveler, Not A Tourist http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/ The Travelzine for Today's Vagabond Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:48:45 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Clear Blue Dei | A Ramble about my last Thailand Trip and a Rant on Travelers http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/comment-page-2/#comment-12393 Clear Blue Dei | A Ramble about my last Thailand Trip and a Rant on Travelers Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:56:46 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/#comment-12393 [...] Here is what travelers “think” they are. Nice sentiments and well worth following (as I try to). But in reality, no one is more pretentious (and less interested in the culture of a country) than people who call themselves “travelers” (follow the link for a good explanation and see the bottom for traveler traits).  They refuse to be called tourists and denigrate all those people who in their minds, are. But basically they are a bunch of either rave kids who follow the parties or middle class kids who just don’t want to work or who want to feel “hip”, who travel around the circuit with each other and mooch off the indigenous population.  They stay in western run backpacker hostels with a bunch of other western kids and the only interaction they have with any local people is with whoever works there (whom they ignore, except to get something).  And lets not forget the total disregard for anyone and anything. It doesn’t even cross their mind to think about what they are doing to the people or property around them. It is the absolute opposite of leaving a small footprint where you travel. [...] [...] Here is what travelers “think” they are. Nice sentiments and well worth following (as I try to). But in reality, no one is more pretentious (and less interested in the culture of a country) than people who call themselves “travelers” (follow the link for a good explanation and see the bottom for traveler traits).  They refuse to be called tourists and denigrate all those people who in their minds, are. But basically they are a bunch of either rave kids who follow the parties or middle class kids who just don’t want to work or who want to feel “hip”, who travel around the circuit with each other and mooch off the indigenous population.  They stay in western run backpacker hostels with a bunch of other western kids and the only interaction they have with any local people is with whoever works there (whom they ignore, except to get something).  And lets not forget the total disregard for anyone and anything. It doesn’t even cross their mind to think about what they are doing to the people or property around them. It is the absolute opposite of leaving a small footprint where you travel. [...]

]]> By: Edwin Himself is Edwin Negado » Recommusings: 007 http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/comment-page-1/#comment-12372 Edwin Himself is Edwin Negado » Recommusings: 007 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:20:04 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/#comment-12372 [...] Five Ways the iPad Will Change Magazine Design ~ Pentagram Get Up To Speed With PENS ~ Skull Kontrol Now Sipping | Stumptown Mocha ~ New York Times The Guggenheim At 50: A Legacy Spirals On Fifth ~ NPR 4 Ways To Be A Traveler, Not A Tourist ~ Vagabondish [...] [...] Five Ways the iPad Will Change Magazine Design ~ Pentagram Get Up To Speed With PENS ~ Skull Kontrol Now Sipping | Stumptown Mocha ~ New York Times The Guggenheim At 50: A Legacy Spirals On Fifth ~ NPR 4 Ways To Be A Traveler, Not A Tourist ~ Vagabondish [...]

]]> By: Hoogaar http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/comment-page-1/#comment-12225 Hoogaar Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:34:43 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/#comment-12225 Awesome post "perspective". I'm so sick of this uppity holier than thou "traveller" crap. I am an avid traveller. Been around the world, to Europe 4 times, going again this summer...and yeah, I love going into McDonald's in France. IMO, that is more "local" than the other "authentic" restaurants you'll see. I can almost guarantee you'll find more locals in a McD than the "authentic" local restaurants. And I think it's cool to have pancakes served with Nutella and being able to buy a beer and McDonald's. These people will avoid the Eiffel Tower while in Paris and look down their nose at anyone so common as to go see it...whatever - get off your high horses Awesome post “perspective”.

I’m so sick of this uppity holier than thou “traveller” crap. I am an avid traveller. Been around the world, to Europe 4 times, going again this summer…and yeah, I love going into McDonald’s in France. IMO, that is more “local” than the other “authentic” restaurants you’ll see. I can almost guarantee you’ll find more locals in a McD than the “authentic” local restaurants. And I think it’s cool to have pancakes served with Nutella and being able to buy a beer and McDonald’s.

These people will avoid the Eiffel Tower while in Paris and look down their nose at anyone so common as to go see it…whatever – get off your high horses

]]> By: perspective http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/comment-page-1/#comment-12191 perspective Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:42:32 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/#comment-12191 "Real travellers know people are extraordinarily similar around the world" "There is rarely a reason to visit a fast food restaurant" And yet... often, the *locals* are in the fast food chain. Because locals can be addicted to disgusting fried foods, just the way us North Americans have become addicted to gross, saturated fats. Are we about to criticize all those locals for choosing McDonald's, as if we have the right to tell them what is authentic and what is not? The truth is, a local experience is an experience in the country you are in. If you are in the McDonalds in Abu Dabi, that IS a local experience, if indeed that is what you wish to do. It might not have anything to do with "needing to feel like you are in your home city", and just be another local experience of the globalized variety. Maybe you want to save the ketchup packages written with Arabic script. Who knows? Sometimes, travellers get too caught up in this unspoken competition to have the most "authentic" local experience, as if globalization NEVER happened. Well, for better or worse, it's here. And surprise surprise, it's the LOCAL people of whatever country you are in who are involved too. I'm not saying go to Turkey and head to Pizza Hut for THE ONLY Turkish experience. It's just that... maybe you want to see what Pizza Hut is like in Turkey. Why does that make you a bad traveller? Or an ignorant traveller? The "real" Turkey includes shwarma AND McDonalds: they are both eaten by locals, are they not? (At least those who eat beef!) Try both! Or don't! But stop judging! I think many North American travellers (I'm Canadian) are insecure about being in certain countries and want to appear as "local" as possible to seem somehow more cultured or more globally aware. Don't be insecure! So what if you are ordering a hamburger? Don't be afraid that people will judge you- those who do are just afraid of being judged right back. If you strike up a conversation with that local girl sitting next to you who is ALSO enjoying a hamburger, you might be onto a great local experience others missed! Food for thought. :) “Real travellers know people are extraordinarily similar around the world”

“There is rarely a reason to visit a fast food restaurant”

And yet… often, the *locals* are in the fast food chain. Because locals can be addicted to disgusting fried foods, just the way us North Americans have become addicted to gross, saturated fats.

Are we about to criticize all those locals for choosing McDonald’s, as if we have the right to tell them what is authentic and what is not?

The truth is, a local experience is an experience in the country you are in. If you are in the McDonalds in Abu Dabi, that IS a local experience, if indeed that is what you wish to do. It might not have anything to do with “needing to feel like you are in your home city”, and just be another local experience of the globalized variety. Maybe you want to save the ketchup packages written with Arabic script. Who knows?

Sometimes, travellers get too caught up in this unspoken competition to have the most “authentic” local experience, as if globalization NEVER happened. Well, for better or worse, it’s here. And surprise surprise, it’s the LOCAL people of whatever country you are in who are involved too.

I’m not saying go to Turkey and head to Pizza Hut for THE ONLY Turkish experience. It’s just that… maybe you want to see what Pizza Hut is like in Turkey. Why does that make you a bad traveller? Or an ignorant traveller?

The “real” Turkey includes shwarma AND McDonalds: they are both eaten by locals, are they not? (At least those who eat beef!) Try both! Or don’t! But stop judging!

I think many North American travellers (I’m Canadian) are insecure about being in certain countries and want to appear as “local” as possible to seem somehow more cultured or more globally aware.

Don’t be insecure! So what if you are ordering a hamburger? Don’t be afraid that people will judge you- those who do are just afraid of being judged right back.

If you strike up a conversation with that local girl sitting next to you who is ALSO enjoying a hamburger, you might be onto a great local experience others missed!

Food for thought. :)

]]> By: Achieving Your Potential — Rambling Thoughts Blog http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/comment-page-1/#comment-11887 Achieving Your Potential — Rambling Thoughts Blog Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:02:20 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/#comment-11887 [...] new measures that are less linked to material value and far less tangible. Learning new skills or experiencing new cultures as a traveller not a tourist are all edging their way up the priority list of what people hope to achieve in the [...] [...] new measures that are less linked to material value and far less tangible. Learning new skills or experiencing new cultures as a traveller not a tourist are all edging their way up the priority list of what people hope to achieve in the [...]

]]> By: I Am A Tourist – Are You? | Travel-Junkie.com http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/comment-page-1/#comment-10829 I Am A Tourist – Are You? | Travel-Junkie.com Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:05:44 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/#comment-10829 [...] was kind of hoping that eventually people get tired of the ongoing tourist vs traveller debate and it’s offsprings. It seems to pop up now and again on the blogosphere [...] [...] was kind of hoping that eventually people get tired of the ongoing tourist vs traveller debate and it’s offsprings. It seems to pop up now and again on the blogosphere [...]

]]> By: Remember the Alamo « 349 south http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/comment-page-1/#comment-10155 Remember the Alamo « 349 south Sun, 16 Aug 2009 07:09:44 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/#comment-10155 [...] So, maybe the Alamo is an “Over-rated Tourist Attraction.”  But, “Tourist” is definitely the operative word.  I have visited the Alamo twice in my life, first when I was [...] [...] So, maybe the Alamo is an “Over-rated Tourist Attraction.”  But, “Tourist” is definitely the operative word.  I have visited the Alamo twice in my life, first when I was [...]

]]> By: Tourista Maximus http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/comment-page-1/#comment-10047 Tourista Maximus Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:14:54 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/#comment-10047 If you wish to do a smooth transition from Tourist to Traveler, one way might be to rent a villa and spend some time. In Jamaica, we rented for a few weeks. Our cook was very helpful in steering us to places that were not on the tour books, but were very noteworthy. I'm sure most travelers scoff at spending time in an upscale home in a poor country, but I think even the most humble traveler is a high roller when compared to the Jamaican street people we met and enjoyed trading experiences with. If you wish to do a smooth transition from Tourist to Traveler, one way might be to rent a villa and spend some time. In Jamaica, we rented for a few weeks. Our cook was very helpful in steering us to places that were not on the tour books, but were very noteworthy. I’m sure most travelers scoff at spending time in an upscale home in a poor country, but I think even the most humble traveler is a high roller when compared to the Jamaican street people we met and enjoyed trading experiences with.

]]> By: Tourista Maximus http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/comment-page-1/#comment-10046 Tourista Maximus Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:08:17 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/#comment-10046 I always jump at the chance to host travelers whenever I bump into them. One thing I've learned from them is when you are in a place different from your home, you will do well to note the differences, rather than to always be talking of how inferior your host country is compared to your home. For example, Europeans seem compelled to tell me how bad our American beer is. When I go to Europe, I don't tell my hosts how terrible their beef is when compared to the beef in the US. If asked, I say it is different, and leave it at that. I always jump at the chance to host travelers whenever I bump into them. One thing I’ve learned from them is when you are in a place different from your home, you will do well to note the differences, rather than to always be talking of how inferior your host country is compared to your home. For example, Europeans seem compelled to tell me how bad our American beer is. When I go to Europe, I don’t tell my hosts how terrible their beef is when compared to the beef in the US. If asked, I say it is different, and leave it at that.

]]> By: Blog « Gods Own Country http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/comment-page-1/#comment-9477 Blog « Gods Own Country Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:33:32 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/#comment-9477 [...] Tourist or Traveler? [...] [...] Tourist or Traveler? [...]

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