There is no denying that with the overload of information we have at our fingertips, there is an urge to try and control everything around us. From planning your itinerary down to the last detail to booking everything months before your travel, this gives us a false sense of control and expectation. However, when things don't go as planned (which often happens), you are usually left disappointed.
When you try to control your travel, you lose the opportunity to experience the unexpected, which is often where magical things happen that make traveling worth all the trouble.
Being Bored is Part of It
On the 11th of September 2014, I went on a hike in Lombok, Indonesia with a couple of friends. After the trek, we split up and I ended up in Bali without any plan. My initial plan was to go to the Komodo island, but that turned out to be too expensive. So there I was in Bali, not knowing what to expect. Since I was so crippled by the Mt Rinjani trek, I decided that the best way to spend my time in Bali was to do absolutely nothing. Boy, was that the best decision I made.
As I was bored out of my goddamn mind, I started conversing with a fellow solo traveler from the Netherlands at the hostel's cafe. She was planning to go for a walk along Kuta Beach, and since I had nothing to do anyway, I decided to tag along.
An ordinary day turned out to be an extraordinary adventure
Me and Verian stumbled upon a Balinese funeral while we were lost in Kuta, Bali.
We got lost on our way back, but we stumbled upon an interesting Balinese traditional funeral. We had one of the best Indonesian lunches ever at the Warung Yogya restaurant. We talked for hours about the differences between our cultures. We hid from the raging sun and chilled out by the pool. We met up with other solo travelers and went out for the night. It was a magical day, all made possible because I decided not to do anything that day.
In a desperate attempt to stop myself from being bored to death, I ended up doing much more than when everything goes according to my plan. According to a scientific research by Dr. Nikolai Axmacher from the University of Bonn in Germany, unexpected events like these are more likely to be remembered than predictable events. I was not just opening myself up for more opportunity to experience the unpredictable beauty of travel but also to create a long-lasting memory of my travel experiences. That is a win-win in my book.
Do Nothing When You Travel
The next time you travel, try not to plan your schedule too tightly. You will not just end up feeling stressed before you even embark on your journey, but you will also miss out on the opportunity to actually experience the unexpected moments that come with travel. Leave a few buffer days in your itinerary and let the magic of travel unfold before your eyes.
Magic!
Remember, travel is not about going to places, taking selfies with the Eiffel Tower, and boasting about it to your friends; it is about experiencing the world. And as you know, the world is not meant to be controlled. Go forth and do nothing the next time you travel, and let me know in the comments below what magical moments you experienced from doing nothing.
Further Reading for Inspiration
Looking for more articles to help inspire you to travel more? Here are a collection of articles you might like:
- Hiking to the Everest Base Camp is one of the most memorable epic moments of my life. Here's a long-read piece about my experiences hiking the Everest Base Camp: On My Way To Everest Base Camp.
- Ever wondered what it's like to travel the world on a third-world passport? Check out: Traveling The World On A Third World Passport.
- Here's why I always celebrate turning a year older with a hike: Climbing Kilimanjaro On My 33rd Birthday.
- Are you currently planning a trip around the world and looking for cheap countries to visit? Here are the 13 Cheapest Countries To Visit in the World.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
- Looking for the most beautiful travel blogs to follow? Here are the 24 Most Beautiful Travel Blogs to Follow.
- For adventurers and backpackers out there, here are the 10 Best Adventure and Backpacking Blogs You Should Follow.
- I truly believe we need more Asian representatives in the English-speaking travel blogging industry, especially for blogs about Asia. Here are the Top 10 Kick-Ass Asian Travel Bloggers To Follow.
- Did you know that you can travel without leaving your couch? Here are the 8 Great Travel Books You Should Read.
- For the best travel videos to inspire you to travel even further, here are the 20 Most Creative Travel Videos of All Time.
- If you are looking for travel vloggers to follow on YouTube that aren't cringeworthy, check out: 10 Best Travel Vloggers to Follow On YouTube.
- The best way to improve your photography skills is to learn from the best. Here are the 10 Best Photography YouTube Channels to Follow.
- A photo is worth a thousand words. Here are the 25 Most Beautiful Travel Photos I Ever Took From Around The World.
- Ever wondered what it is like to be a travel blogger during COVID-19? Check out: Being A Travel Blogger During COVID-19 - What Is It Like?
- Looking for off-the-beaten-path destinations to visit this year? Check out: 8 Best Off-The-Beaten-Path Destination to Visit.
- Can't travel internationally for the time being? How about traveling in your own country? Here are the 7 Reasons Why You Should Travel in Your Own Country.
- To find the most inspirational travel quotes and captions to go with your photos on your Instagram, check out 34 Short and Unique Traveller Quotes for Instagram.
- We often hear bad stories about locals from travelers, but what about the other way around? Here are some of the Notorious Stories Of Terrible Backpackers.
- If you lost your bag while you were traveling, here is how to deal with the situation: My Bag Was Stolen In Germany.
- Have you ever felt that you do not belong in a place where you were born? Read this: Where Is Home? - My Quest In Search Of Where I Belong.
- People often preach about how important it is to live in the moment, but sometimes, that may not be such a good idea. Here is The Problem With Living In The Moment.
- Want to embark on your first solo trip but not sure where to go? As a long-time solo traveler, here are my favorite places based on real experiences: 10 Incredible Travel Destinations for Solo Travelers.
- Solo traveling is not for everyone, and even though I love it to death, it is not always flowers and sunshine for solo travelers. Here are the 10 Things I Hate Most When Traveling Solo.
- Travel friends come and go, but that may not be such a bad thing. Here is why you should embrace your travel friends: A Life Of Brief Encounters.
- Hiking is life. Here's why: One Year Of Incredible Discomfort - 10 Things I've Learned From Climbing Mountains.
- Is life getting you down? Here's why you can't always blame life for everything: Life Doesn't Suck. We Just Suck At Living It.
- Want to know why I chose to travel alone? Read this: We Travel Alone, NOT To Be Alone.
- For a meaningful solo trip, you need to share it with someone. Here is why Happiness Is Only Real When Shared.
- Traveling is no longer for the rich. Here is why: "People Think I'm Rich".
- The Himalayan Mountain is one hell of a teacher. Here are the 7 Life Lessons The Himalayas Taught Me.
- Want to travel alone but scared that you might get bored out of your mind? Here is How To Enjoy Yourself And Have Fun While Traveling Alone.
- Want to start traveling solo as well? Here is What It's Like to Travel Alone.
- Here is a simple story on how I started traveling: F*ck It, I'll Do This Alone.
- For more inspiring articles like this, visit my Inspiration page.
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