BootsnAll Travel Community

I've spent too many vacations with the sightseeing checklist mentality....what advice can you give to aid in the transition to a true traveler?

I'm gearing up for a 2-4 month (maybe longer) trip later this year. It started off as a trip to Europe--after studying up, I was more intrigued with Eastern Europe and it's more undeveloped towns and sights--which quickly evolved into the other extreme--Southeast Asia and the like. So at this point in the game, I don't really know where I'm headed entirely.

I've got about $10k American to commit to the cause and theoretically I'll be traveling Sept '08 through Dec '08.

I love traveling. I love exploring and adventuring--I love the humanity involved--seeing how the rest of the world approaches life and living. While I'm not the best at meeting and engaging strangers, I love those random/chance encounters that have stuck with me from my past travels--those are the highlights of my past trips--those are the stories I love to tell.

Deep down I worry that this trip might turn into a checklist trip for me--a chance to check off a few places across the globe and to check off a few things I've been itching to try.

I love photography--particularly travel photography. It's easy to turn into a checklist kind of traveler when you're a photographer--if you don't come back with certain pictures, you almost feel like you've missed out on something.

I'm terribly green to RTW and Vagabonding travel. At 26 years of age--I've decided it's time to start living my life--time to escape the corporate grind I've found myself in and to be arbitrary about becoming who I want to be.

Any wisdom/encouragement/rebuke would be appreciated.

10k is a good chunk to have fun with. you could stretch that out easy. I would say forget the "lists" make your plans day by day. Follow your heart in what you really want to do and see. Its super simple

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love photography--particularly travel photography. It's easy to turn into a checklist kind of traveler when you're a photographer--if you don't come back with certain pictures, you almost feel like you've missed out on something.

If you have a list of places and sights you want to take pictures of and this is what you are passionate about, there is nothing wrong with that. At the end of it all your trip is only going to be about one thing...YOU

I hear ya. I think a small part of me is afraid of the same thing. It's hard to head to a place and not know exactly what is there to see/do, then the guidebook makes an appearance, next thing you know - you have a list.

I find this particularly hard in areas that i know very little about but know there is a huge history behind it. I love knowing the stories and history of an area since i think it brings a place alive. However it also seems to involve a checklist.

I'm in a similar situation I love photography and at times have wanted to take certain pictures and see certain things (Mt. Fuji has been a major pain for several years) and have ended up with lists of things to do that end up like a check list.

It's ok to be that way, you just need to let some flexibility into the process, I find that if you just remind yourself that if you can't fit everything in there will be another day/time maybe in a future trip.

As far as dropping the lists, I have stopped researching destinations in advance and it pretty much stops the list making and attendant attempt to cover it all. I read the book on the plane on the way in and then ask people at the hostel what their favorite places/things to do are.

I've also found that working and volunteering overseas moved me away from that style of travel, once you have done it someplace you learn ways to better connect with locals anywhere you go. That adds a new dimension to travel that will move you away from list making and fulfilling, you might want to give it a try.

Previous trips of mine were admitedly more or less photo scavenger hunts/outdoor hiking adventures. Those trips were planned around the photo opportuniites--that was the goal and I enjoyed the experience--you all are right, there's nothing inherently wrong with that.

I'm hoping for this next trip to be more of a coming of age/indoctrination for myself than anything else. I grew up feeling uncool and excluded--I haven't been able to shake that feeling. I'm hoping this trip allows me to see myself more rightly. I haven't really found my place in this world--haven't found a social context where I can flourish. I want to become more certain about who I am as a person--a healthier self-esteem, more confidence in my social skills, and an unwillingness to let external expectations direct my life. [It's not my style to be this vulnerable, but it's honest--that usually translates best.] I'm leaving to find myself--and the camera will come with me. I hope that's not too romanticized or idealogical to expect, but that's what I expect and hope for out of my next travelling adventure.