One of the biggest challenges of visiting any city is connecting, in an authentic way, with the local way of life. The reason I find this so challenging is often times online resources are inundated with must do’s for tourists that often times don’t give you a realistic insight into how people live in that country. This caused some deeper thoughts for me, how can we inject ourselves in day to day life and allow for the opportunity of great conversations with locals. Some may or may not agree but I find the solution quite simple. Try as many forms of transportation in that area and you may surprise yourself.
So which forms of transportations really stood out to us the most? The obvious first one is ride sharing apps (various), Train, Biking, Scooters, Rickshaw/Tricycle/Tuk-Tuk, and a few others. I wanted to offer some insights in how these forms of transportation really helped us get a better understanding of local life but also the fun/not so fun times it provided us with.
Ride Sharing
The classic. The reality of a good or a bad “Uber” is that at the end of it all you will have learned something. I tend to be the cringe passenger who wants to converse more often than not instead of sitting like a well behaved 5yr old and look out the window. I think ride sharing apps in general are a great way to meet strangers you wouldn’t typically meet but this gets amplified abroad. From taxi drivers to multi job working professionals you get such a vast variety in people working hard to make a living. These conversations have led to learning more about the racial tension in South Africa, challenges in Kenya, to the religious dynamics in Egypt, and to finding some authentic local food spots that we may have normally missed. Every conversation seems like a roulette of knowledge. I love it. Even if you’re traveling to a city that is very heavy on public transportation I still think it’s worth grabbing a car.
Train
In my opinion, trains are extremely under rated, and compared to the rest of the world, the US is very far behind. Surprisingly this form of transportation created one of the most vivid memory of all on this trip. It is very important to note the train experiences varies drastically between countries - example: Japan vs. India. The difference is quite interesting and beautiful in its own way. On one hand you have the Japan speed train where you get on the train with your little Bento Box (lunch box) and next thing you know, a couple hours later, you’re at a city that would have taken you between 3-4 hours by car. Seamless and organized would be an understatement. The stark contrast to the Indian trains, which are a bit hard to locate which platform to be on, filled to the brim with people, and often late. The trains in India are nothing fancy, all of them with doors and windows open at all times. This combination gives for a pretty surreal feeling especially riding at night in Mumbai. There is such a raw and free feeling to hang out of a train that’s going faster than it should, and look at the city lights at night. Just watching the heart beat of the city before your eyes is special. I genuinely think everyone should do it once. Despite this high speed + large exposure combo, people are quite careful. One gentleman had one too many drinks and was too close for comfort to the open doors - others jumped in and told him to sit down to avoid a bad accident. Little acts of kindness seem to constantly be around if you pay attention, but most of the time social media dominates the human attention. A lot of the cities where we travelled by train, people seem to be really committed to anything and everything from TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
Bicycle
The tranquility and peace of this option can’t be beat by the others in my opinion. There is something special about riding a bike. Perhaps I am extremely biased because I loved riding so much as a kid; however, tranquility doesn’t necessarily mean not connecting. So, how does one connect with the locals? During our multi-day cycling trip through South Korea, time and time again we got to interact with little mom and pop shops and kind locals throughout. These are experiences which otherwise we would’ve never seen had we not gone off the beaten path in these small cities. We had some of the best meals in South Korea by biking and not to mention the best latte we have ever had (see image). People tend to be nicer in rural parts and are excited to teach you about themselves and their culture. Sometimes this gets missed in the big cities. Not every city/country is made for biking but if it is, I think this should be a strong consideration for many. Just make sure you bring some cycling gear if you decide to trek for multiple days - your butt will thank you for it :).
Scooters
This is another experience that gave me goose bumps. This was the first time riding a scooter with Daia, the feeling was a bit euphoric to say the least. The cars and other motorcycle zooming past us, the jungle on each side, and the air hitting our faces gave us the feeling that we are flying. To top it off… the golden hour sunset ride back to the city with some of the friends we made from one of our Philippine adventures felt like we were kids again. The people in the Philippines really make you feel like you very easily part of the environment. Throughout our riding we are amongst locals passing through small towns and feeling that we belong in a more permanent way than temporary. It’s hard to really articulate this, but there are countries/places where you constantly get reminded you are tourist and there’s countries where you feel like you belong there. This feeling shouldn’t be overlooked but rather celebrated. Philippines made us feel like we were part of the environment. Another added perk: the convenience and how cheap a scooter is honestly can’t be beat (~5$/day with 2$ of gas). This, alongside the ability to park and access just about anywhere, makes it such a seamless experience. Each country varies and some are more strict than others on motorcycle licenses, but if you feel comfortable this is a must.
Riksaw/Tricycle/Tuk-tuk
If the city you’re going to has them - take one! Every city is a bit different: the local traffic, the tension you feel. This is the closest you are to your driver. In a country like Philippines where people in general speak English this has allowed for some interesting conversation including that of the “Horniest 56yr old man” in Puerto Princesa. Daia, myself, and new friend Kenza got a whole 20min of stories and jokes of how this man has a dream of having a one night stand - upon which he proceeded to laugh intensely while giving Daia and Kenza a “high five”. He then proceeded to tell us how drinking ginger for the last 9 years has really helped keep him “in-shape” for his wife. It was a pretty weird interaction, but in the end we had a good laugh. Aside from this we have had many pleasant experiences where you are able to make small talk, get a unique perspective of the city, and get one hell of a rush both negotiating and hoping to not crash. Adrenaline is quite high with this one - try it!!
Running
People talk about running as a way to stay active in other cities but it’s also a great way to connect. Whether it’s seeing neighborhoods you don’t typically see or getting involved with a local run club, this was a great way to get out in the city. We enjoyed some amazing scenery and even better company. The nice thing about all this is getting people’s Strava from around the world and seeing how they stay active as an added motivation boost.
Bus
This takes a lot of courage and coordination depending which country you are in. We opted for this in Morocco as a means to get to and from the airport. While we didn’t really chat with anyone it was interesting to see the humble public transportation system and people’s willingness to help us find the right direction. Seeing the city and the “heart beat” of people going in and out as they go on their daily whereabouts is also nice to watch.
Boats
This option may not be the easiest nor the most practical - but, if possible, it’s worth considering. While we had a great opportunity to meet more than just locals, being on a boat in both Vietnam and the Philippines proved to be well worth it. The unique views you get coupled with getting to know some of the folks that work on the boat offers a nice balance between “Wow that looks amazing” and “Wow I didn’t know you were that good at Karaoke”. To top it off, meeting other tourists from all over the world allows you to learn and connect over the common things that brought you here - the craving to learn and discover what this world has to offer.
You've made it to the end....I hope next time you travel you take a moment to consider stepping out of your regular norm and try one of these options. The outcome may surprise you!
With much love,
Adi and Daia
Comments