Comments on: The Dirt on Experiential Travel http://www.traveling-savage.com/2010/01/19/the-dirt-on-experiential-travel/ Around the World, One Month at a Time Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:46:41 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Keith Savage http://www.traveling-savage.com/2010/01/19/the-dirt-on-experiential-travel/#comment-8089 Keith Savage Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:00:48 +0000 http://www.traveling-savage.com/?p=373#comment-8089 Hi Bob, I think you note what experiential travel is all about - getting under the culture's skin whatever way possible. Your trips to Macedonia sound like immersive, growing travel experiences. Awesome! Hi Bob, I think you note what experiential travel is all about – getting under the culture’s skin whatever way possible. Your trips to Macedonia sound like immersive, growing travel experiences. Awesome!

]]> By: Bob L http://www.traveling-savage.com/2010/01/19/the-dirt-on-experiential-travel/#comment-8085 Bob L Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:51:33 +0000 http://www.traveling-savage.com/?p=373#comment-8085 I have had the good fortunate through my job as a Y professional to become immersed in a different culture through a Y to Y partnership. Our New Jersey based Y established a partnership with an emerging Y in the Republic of Macedonia. I have travelled to this beautiful Eastern European country five times; solo, with my family, and with three groups of teens. We have also hosted our Macedonian friends here in the US. Each stay in Macedonia typically lasted 10 days to 2 weeks and I lived for the most part in traditional Macedonian homes. While the amount of time certainly plays a part in the quality of the experience, what's more important, in my opinion, is the attitudes and the values we bring to the relationships. My understanding and appreciation of the Macedonian culture and way of life has become progressively more clear with each and every interaction. Quite frankly, I learned just as much from long, afternoon chats sipping macchiatos in an outdoor cafe, as I have climbing a steep mountain or visiting an ancient monestery. I have had the good fortunate through my job as a Y professional to become immersed in a different culture through a Y to Y partnership. Our New Jersey based Y established a partnership with an emerging Y in the Republic of Macedonia. I have travelled to this beautiful Eastern European country five times; solo, with my family, and with three groups of teens. We have also hosted our Macedonian friends here in the US. Each stay in Macedonia typically lasted 10 days to 2 weeks and I lived for the most part in traditional Macedonian homes.

While the amount of time certainly plays a part in the quality of the experience, what’s more important, in my opinion, is the attitudes and the values we bring to the relationships. My understanding and appreciation of the Macedonian culture and way of life has become progressively more clear with each and every interaction. Quite frankly, I learned just as much from long, afternoon chats sipping macchiatos in an outdoor cafe, as I have climbing a steep mountain or visiting an ancient monestery.

]]> By: Keith Savage http://www.traveling-savage.com/2010/01/19/the-dirt-on-experiential-travel/#comment-1078 Keith Savage Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:57:42 +0000 http://www.traveling-savage.com/?p=373#comment-1078 Hi Varun, I wouldn't disagree with you. Experiential travel as a term is very loose and open to many types of experiences (for better or for worse). Thanks for stopping by and good luck on your quest! Hi Varun, I wouldn’t disagree with you. Experiential travel as a term is very loose and open to many types of experiences (for better or for worse). Thanks for stopping by and good luck on your quest!

]]> By: Varun http://www.traveling-savage.com/2010/01/19/the-dirt-on-experiential-travel/#comment-1076 Varun Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:37:29 +0000 http://www.traveling-savage.com/?p=373#comment-1076 I have been looking for a similar point of view for a while now. I completely agree with you Keith. Learning about culture and people is definitely experiential travel and your 4 points you mentioned in your other article is brilliant and definitely made me more aware of something that i knew in my subconscious. However, i feel adventure, in the form of sports or trekking or whatever is also a part of experiential travel. The fact that one has such an intense emotional experience/rush in a different country brings a whole new identification with that place. So i think its a number of things - culture,adventure,local skills,festivals and events,food & wine. I run a travel company as well and hope to cross paths in the near future! Cheers I have been looking for a similar point of view for a while now. I completely agree with you Keith. Learning about culture and people is definitely experiential travel and your 4 points you mentioned in your other article is brilliant and definitely made me more aware of something that i knew in my subconscious.
However, i feel adventure, in the form of sports or trekking or whatever is also a part of experiential travel. The fact that one has such an intense emotional experience/rush in a different country brings a whole new identification with that place. So i think its a number of things – culture,adventure,local skills,festivals and events,food & wine.
I run a travel company as well and hope to cross paths in the near future!
Cheers

]]> By: Keith http://www.traveling-savage.com/2010/01/19/the-dirt-on-experiential-travel/#comment-678 Keith Tue, 04 May 2010 18:36:21 +0000 http://www.traveling-savage.com/?p=373#comment-678 I think we share the same beliefs. Though you know, maybe the challenge should be "getting to know a place" in a short period of time, to see if it can be done... I think we share the same beliefs. Though you know, maybe the challenge should be “getting to know a place” in a short period of time, to see if it can be done…

]]> By: Keith http://www.traveling-savage.com/2010/01/19/the-dirt-on-experiential-travel/#comment-677 Keith Tue, 04 May 2010 18:35:07 +0000 http://www.traveling-savage.com/?p=373#comment-677 Thank you for sharing these experiences. They sound really memorable, especially Chitwan National Park with the elephant...man. Yes, pay attention. That's so critical. Thank you for sharing these experiences. They sound really memorable, especially Chitwan National Park with the elephant…man. Yes, pay attention. That’s so critical.

]]> By: singlewithluggage http://www.traveling-savage.com/2010/01/19/the-dirt-on-experiential-travel/#comment-674 singlewithluggage Tue, 04 May 2010 14:42:17 +0000 http://www.traveling-savage.com/?p=373#comment-674 Some of my best 'experiential travel' moments: any one of several overnight trains in India- you get to know the family with whom you're sharing the oversold beds. (skip first class for this experience) hanging out with Tibetan Refugees in a mountain village in the Himalayas after an injury forced my friends to leave me behind for a week of recuperation. 2 months hitchhiking between Paris and Matalascanas (via Barcelona) and back. People took us into their vehicles, their homes, their lives. We stayed 3 days as guests in someone's country home outside of Barcelona. I learned to make paella and gazpacho! Chitwan National Park: I took the time to talk to a boy and his elephant "Lakshmi' one night. The two of them are together 24 hrs./day. I spent the entire next day with him, learning about elephants. When Lakshmi let me step on her trunk and lifted me to her back for a bareback ride amongst the black rhinos... well, it was heaven. The list goes on and on. Each off the beaten track experience comes as a result of the energy you put out- always ALWAYS take time to really notice people. When you're genuinely interested in knowing someone, they usually seem pretty eager to reciprocate. Great piece. Makes me want to get on the road again ASAP!! .-= singlewithluggage´s last blog ..<a href="http://singlewithluggage.com/from-slow-burn-to-sole-burner" rel="nofollow">From Slow Burn to Sole Burner</a> =-. Some of my best ‘experiential travel’ moments:
any one of several overnight trains in India- you get to know the family with whom you’re sharing the oversold beds. (skip first class for this experience)

hanging out with Tibetan Refugees in a mountain village in the Himalayas after an injury forced my friends to leave me behind for a week of recuperation.

2 months hitchhiking between Paris and Matalascanas (via Barcelona) and back. People took us into their vehicles, their homes, their lives. We stayed 3 days as guests in someone’s country home outside of Barcelona. I learned to make paella and gazpacho!

Chitwan National Park: I took the time to talk to a boy and his elephant “Lakshmi’ one night. The two of them are together 24 hrs./day. I spent the entire next day with him, learning about elephants. When Lakshmi let me step on her trunk and lifted me to her back for a bareback ride amongst the black rhinos… well, it was heaven.

The list goes on and on. Each off the beaten track experience comes as a result of the energy you put out- always ALWAYS take time to really notice people. When you’re genuinely interested in knowing someone, they usually seem pretty eager to reciprocate.

Great piece. Makes me want to get on the road again ASAP!!
.-= singlewithluggage´s last blog ..From Slow Burn to Sole Burner =-.

]]> By: Suzy http://www.traveling-savage.com/2010/01/19/the-dirt-on-experiential-travel/#comment-509 Suzy Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:10:59 +0000 http://www.traveling-savage.com/?p=373#comment-509 Great post. I agree with you about the AFAR definition. Although I think experiential travel can happen going anywhere, even Disneyland. No matter where I go, there is some experience or exchange where I feel closer to a place than just sightseeing. I think a lot of it stems from just being open to this sort of travel rather than glazing over experiences while en route to see Mickey or the Eiffel Tower. However, I do firmly believe that you can't know a place or destination unless you go live there for awhile and surround yourself with locales. Getting to know the people that live that place daily is experiential travel for me. That is why I stayed with host families all throughout Italy. I have these burning memories of nightly dinner conversations about Italian life, something I wouldn't have had if I stayed in a hotel or apartment. .-= Suzy´s last blog ..<a href="http://suzyguese.com/suzy-stumbles-over-travel-week-of-april-5-2010/" rel="nofollow">Suzy Stumbles Over Travel: Week of April 5, 2010</a> =-. Great post. I agree with you about the AFAR definition. Although I think experiential travel can happen going anywhere, even Disneyland. No matter where I go, there is some experience or exchange where I feel closer to a place than just sightseeing. I think a lot of it stems from just being open to this sort of travel rather than glazing over experiences while en route to see Mickey or the Eiffel Tower. However, I do firmly believe that you can’t know a place or destination unless you go live there for awhile and surround yourself with locales. Getting to know the people that live that place daily is experiential travel for me. That is why I stayed with host families all throughout Italy. I have these burning memories of nightly dinner conversations about Italian life, something I wouldn’t have had if I stayed in a hotel or apartment.
.-= Suzy´s last blog ..Suzy Stumbles Over Travel: Week of April 5, 2010 =-.

]]> By: Keith http://www.traveling-savage.com/2010/01/19/the-dirt-on-experiential-travel/#comment-77 Keith Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:27:21 +0000 http://www.traveling-savage.com/?p=373#comment-77 Gray, you bring up even more to chew on! Interesting contention that you need at least several months to achieve this understanding. Is this really a function of time, or will the right mindset and tactics offset that? I don't know the answer, but it will be an incredible ride finding out. Gray, you bring up even more to chew on! Interesting contention that you need at least several months to achieve this understanding. Is this really a function of time, or will the right mindset and tactics offset that? I don’t know the answer, but it will be an incredible ride finding out.

]]> By: Gray http://www.traveling-savage.com/2010/01/19/the-dirt-on-experiential-travel/#comment-75 Gray Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:53:00 +0000 http://www.traveling-savage.com/?p=373#comment-75 Fascinating article, Keith. It's a lot to chew on. I hadn't heard of the classifications of travel before. Although real life experience has taught me that you can't pigeonhole people or experiences so easily. Nor would we want to do that, I think. It seems there's a dichotomy between wanting to "see the world" and yet also wanting the in-depth locals experience. In order to truly experience a place like the locals do, you need to do more than hang out with locals for a week or two. You need to stop, settle down and live there for at least a few months. You need to know what it feels like to face boredom at the end of the day in that place. Learn about the local politics, allow yourself to feel the way the locals do about various issues. In other words, be a citizen of that place, and not just a visitor. But if you do that, you certainly won't see all the places you want to see in a year. It would take a lifetime. It's a conundrum, but a good one, to constantly seek that balance between seeing as much as possible and experiencing things in depth. As long as we don't find that which we seek, we'll keep seeking (or in this case, traveling). :-) .-= Gray´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/solofriendly/sLWF/~3/6e2xhpoeCq8/" rel="nofollow">Recommended Reads, January 24, 2010</a> =-. Fascinating article, Keith. It’s a lot to chew on. I hadn’t heard of the classifications of travel before. Although real life experience has taught me that you can’t pigeonhole people or experiences so easily. Nor would we want to do that, I think. It seems there’s a dichotomy between wanting to “see the world” and yet also wanting the in-depth locals experience. In order to truly experience a place like the locals do, you need to do more than hang out with locals for a week or two. You need to stop, settle down and live there for at least a few months. You need to know what it feels like to face boredom at the end of the day in that place. Learn about the local politics, allow yourself to feel the way the locals do about various issues. In other words, be a citizen of that place, and not just a visitor.

But if you do that, you certainly won’t see all the places you want to see in a year. It would take a lifetime. It’s a conundrum, but a good one, to constantly seek that balance between seeing as much as possible and experiencing things in depth. As long as we don’t find that which we seek, we’ll keep seeking (or in this case, traveling). :-)
.-= Gray´s last blog ..Recommended Reads, January 24, 2010 =-.

]]>