Wandering  /wändər/  verb
to walk or move in a leisurely, casual or aimless way

Wandering is a different way to travel. It’s Slow. It’s Attentive. It’s Stress-free. Wandering involves moving through a place with nothing more than some comfy shoes, a general idea of where you are and where you’re heading, and wide open eyes. It’s exploring without constantly looking at a map to make sure you’re going the right way. It’s taking a left turn because the streetlights looks cool, or sitting on a bench under some oak trees because you like the vibe. You move at your own pace and set your own direction. Wandering allows you to feel the energy and see the everyday life of a new place, not just a peek through the window as a tourist. You notice and appreciate things that are easily missed if passed by too quickly, or if they happen to not fall on the route from one attraction to the next. It’s slow, attentive, and stress-free. It’s the best way to travel.

Is Wandering Right For You?

(Spoiler Alert: the answer is Yes!)

Different travel styles work for different people, this is true. If you get anxious without a plan or not knowing what’s next, you may think wandering isn’t for you. But you are someone who would benefit the most from wandering. It may not be comfortable, it may make you nervous or worried you’re not making the most of your time, but these will fade over time as the benefits of this kind of travel start to outweigh the negative. In the end, you will be more relaxed, you will experience more of the community, and look back on the experience as rejuvenating and inspiring, as opposed to rushed and lacking authenticity. It may be painful at first, but push through, wander with a free-spirited friend, and it’ll be worth it. I promise you.

Conventional vs. Wandering Travel

Conventional travel usually includes hopping between the “Top 10 Must See Sights” and eating at the “Best Authentic Restaurants in [insert city].” Conventional travel encourages you to stay within the tourist borders, eating at restaurants with menus in your language, staying in hotels with all the conveniences you’re used to.  This form of travel essentially brings the visitor’s culture and way of life to another city, while he or she comfortably moves from one attraction to the next, snapping pics.  It reduces a place to only those attractions, not a place full of different people, unique culture and normal everyday life.  Conventional travel shows only the very top of the city iceberg,  viewed as an outsider, while wandering travel seeks to experience the whole iceberg, inconveniences, embarrassments, misinterpretations and all.

Note: While it may seem like I’m ranting against the ever-so-popular Top X lists, I do see their value. I use them, but they don’t act as my itinerary, merely as starting or ending points to my day. I may start my day at the Po Lin Monastery in Hong Kong and plan to end my day at the Temple Street Market (both of which show up on any Top X lists), but what I do in-between is wander. And I may not make it to the market at all because I stumbled upon something else. Top X lists are useful, but shouldn’t act as your daily itineraries.

It is so easy to get stuck in the conventional travel trap, staying in the city centers where more tourists are likely to be, and avoiding the areas where you are the outsider. But to truly experience somewhere new, it’s more likely than not going to be uncomfortable, confusing and hard.  But if you want to be in a new place, feel it, see it, get a vibe from the people in their natural environment, not only see the top of the iceberg, wandering is your ticket.

Wandering is a mix of seemingly uneventful moments and those unforgettable moments that push us to travel in the first place. The uneventful moments are all part of the wandering method, building a foundation of comfort, assimilation,  and connection that lead to unforgettable moments. Some days you may just wander, checking out side streets, local shops, or a main attraction. While other days, you may stumble upon a hole-in-the-wall museum, start chatting with the owner, and get invited for tea to chat and learn about local history first hand. You may find yourself in the middle of a wedding procession and bust a move with the bridal party. Or catch the most incredible view of the city from an out-of-the-way, small park on a hill. Some days are conventionally more eventful than others, but everyday serves a purpose and leads to the next adventure. You never know what will happen when you opt to get lost, follow your instinct, go off the tourist track and open yourself up to new experiences.

How To Wander

Pick a Place

The obvious first step of wandering is to pick a place to wander. This could be a city halfway across the world or in your own backyard. It really doesn’t matter. You can wander anywhere. There is no specific time frame for wandering. It all depends on the size of the area you intend to wander around and if there are any specific sights you do want to see.

Do your research

Once you pick a place, start researching it. While I am absolutely advocating for getting lost and wandering, it is helpful to come prepared with a general idea of what you want to see and the layout of the city. As an analyst by trade, I like going into new situations with some helpful info in my back pocket.  Take a few hours to check out some mainstream travel sights, (my favorites include Lonely Planet and a good ol Google search) as well as some not so mainstream sites, like Atlas Obscura and various travel blogs. This will give you a general idea of the main attractions that you want to scope out and some of the more off-beat sights.

Next, look into the transportation situation. This can be so varied around the world. Most big cities use a mix of subways, buses and taxis. Others use minibuses, tuktuks and bikes. See what is the recommended method, how much they cost, if you need to buy a transportation card, and any other helpful information. A lot of cities have an app that helps you plan your journeys on the subway or even buses. Knowing what to expect before you get there will save you time and frustration.

If wandering in a country that speaks a different language, download a translation app to your phone, or better yet, learn a few key phrases (hello, thank you, yes, no). This will come in handy as you wander outside of the tourist areas.

Just Go, Man

You’ve done your research and you’re ready to go! If there is a sight or attraction that particularly interests you, go there first. Once you’re done there, take a glance at your map and see what’s around. If something piques your interest walk in that direction, or just wander until you find something.  Get lost. Hop into the cafes, shops, museums and bars that catch your eye. Eat that street food that looks delicious. Go down that alley with the intriguing view. Explore!

Don’t be afraid of language barriers. My experience has been that the non-touristy places are usually more friendly and helpful because they haven’t been dealing with annoying, loud tourists all day! You are a bit of an anomaly and you’re more likely to get some free goodies since they want you to love their food. And if you learned a few words of their language, even better!

What About Safety?

A legit and common concern. A quick search about safety and areas to avoid is recommended before you arrive. The last thing you want is to end up in the wrong part of town, but with some common sense and adequate research this is easily avoided. I have never had a problem with safety, as a matter of fact, I feel more safe outside of the tourist area where people are just living their lives, going about their everyday lives, not caring much about me being there. But again, don’t go in blindly, always research and follow the basic safety tips as you would anywhere.

---

 

I’d love to hear about your wandering adventures, tips or answer any questions! Leave your comments below.

Happy Wanderings!