Impromptu travel is really my style. I generally don’t plan much, nor very ahead of time. The way to let the adrenaline kick in is to just roar off into the horizon.
It doesn’t mean I am an irresponsible traveller though. Nor an apathetic one. To have really immersive travel experience, I try to be socially and culturally aware of the place. Won’t it be a pity if I arrived someplace by a flight, stayed in a star hotel and went sightseeing to all the ‘recommended’ places?
Let me tell you what’s even more pitiable. Turning a blind eye to the place you are at, not really caring about it beyond the monuments, the scenic spots and other must-sees.
Travel to a place isn’t merely escaping my routine; it’s to experience another culture and connect with people whom I don’t see on a daily basis. I don’t want to take away memories but also leave the place and people better because of my being there.
What are the different ways to enjoy your visit when you #LeaveEveryPlaceBetter than before? Let me tell you a few of my experiences.
- Those eye-sores and environmental-wreckers
Yes, plastic. Plastic bags, cups, plates and boxes that you use to carry food in and those you conveniently toss away so that you can continue to travel light. When we have made a switch from plastic to other material in our daily lives then why not the times we travel. I always ensure that I carry steel containers to pack my food in a flask to carry water and a reusable steel water bottle that I can refill.
On my last holiday, I was struck by the amount of garbage and plastic waste that was choking the beautiful landscape I was trying to capture on my camera.
Then I came across this fantastic initiative by Royal Enfield of providing clean, drinking water to tourists. They have installed water purifiers in Ladakh as of now to reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles – an expense we cannot let go of. I was so pleased to note that a brand like Royal Enfield was doing its bit to support responsible travellers like me.
- Experience Local by Buying Local
For sure, you would say. I always buy stuff to take back home. And for friends and relatives.
For me too. One of the high points of my travel is after travel. I love to unpack my backpack in front of my family who just wants to know what is it that I have brought back for them. Souvenirs are not just the way to make my extended family and friends feel loved. It is also my way to help the local economy in my little way.
While shopping, I don’t buy the mass-produced souvenirs from the local factory. On a recent visit to the hills, I would seek out the women working in their yards, who later sell to the middlemen from where the handicrafts make their way to emporiums. Or I looked for the cottage industries and buy from them directly. It also gave me a good photo ops with the artisans.
- Smaller footprints
Reduce that carbon footprint, folks. You would be thinking how can I preach this, me who zooms around and takes off whenever I can to whichever place takes my fancy?
Once I reach my destination, I prefer walking or taking local transport, like the bus. Did you know these are the best ways to explore and experience a place? That is because you’re that much closer to the action – especially when you walk around, after a bus ride, to soak in the vibe of the place. Also, it provides really good photo ops!
- Celebrate with real people
I love to connect with the people who live in the place I am visiting. I have a friend who often tells me that life as a local and life as a tourist are two completely different things. Whenever we ride into the hills during the winters, the thought uppermost in our minds is to catch snowfall. Ah yes, those selfies in the snow. The last time I visited Shimla, I made it a point to visit the smaller hamlets in the valleys. I could see how hard life can be for people who have to clear snow, rely on their supplies, manage life without electricity as snow often snaps electric poles. People had to trudge miles to get medical attention.
- Educating the locals on disposing of garbage
I am always conscious of the place I visit and converse with the locals there. It gives an idea of what are their views on keeping the place clean and how are they contributing towards it.
It is important to educate the residents on disposing garbage appropriately and reducing plastic use to a bare minimum. A simple way to start is to keep dustbins on the streets at regular intervals to maintain sanitation. This would also help them to increase tourist footfall.
The response I have received through making the locals a little more aware has told me how important such conversations are!
Going green and being a responsible traveller is simply an extension of your normal life. You only need to do as a traveller what you have been doing all along. When you #LeaveEveryPlaceBetter it’s good for your conscience and the places you visit.
