3 WAYS TO HAVE A RICHER TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

I have no qualms about being the usual tourist who goes to landmark after landmark, because we obviously need to see these famous sights in our lifetime - again, to each his own - but I think that everyone's travel experience will be so much richer if we go beyond what the guide books and Wikipedia tell us to see and do. Of course, there are the usual must-dos of eating local fare, hanging out with locals, and buying local handicrafts – beyond these, here are three other ways to supplement what we're already doing to have a richer knowledge and experience of a foreign destination:

1. CHECK OUT THE CITY'S SUBCULTURE

More often that not, this pertains to street culture and the art produced by its followers. Beyond the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay, did you know that Paris has street-art arrondissements? Yep. This culturally-intense city has an underground art movement in the Oberkampf, Belleville and Ménilmontant neighborhoods. I learned about this accidentally during my last visit, when I met a HongKonger in my hostel who was fascinated by the works of Zezao or Philip Herard. I haven't even heard of these names in a street-art world dominated by the likes of the more-famous Banksy and JR! Even my favorite Parisian neighborhood, MontMartre, has a burgeoning grafitti art scene and by walking around, you can see the works of Space Invader and Gregos!

Belleville, 20th Arrondissement

Then there are of course, destinations which are truly famous for their street murals and graffiti, like Berlin. It was a privilege to have taken a walking tour in the heart of Berlin’s art & culture scene, the Kunsthaus Tacheles – which at that time, people were trying to save from being torn down via a signature petition. I signed the petition, of course! Sadly, it’s now gone, but there are still various street art that dot this vibrant city. The Alternative Berlin tour was my favorite part of my visit as it took me on a culturally-enriching walk around the non-glitzy side of the city, opened up my eyes to the stories behind the famous Berlin Wall, and allowed me to actually interact with local artists inside the Tacheles who were living what we would call an “alternative” lifestyle.

Inside the Tacheles

Another European country that has an interesting subculture is Copenhagen. Beyond its picturesque canals and colorful, Scandinavian heritage buildings, you will find Fristaden Christiania, a semi-autonomous hippie freetown which has its own set of societal rules and is completely independent from the Danish government. Wandering in this town made me feel like I was sucked into a time warp and thrown back to the 1960s! While I found downtown Copenhagen to be modern, chic, orderly, and stylish - everything I expected from a city known for its functional yet artsy designs - Christiania was a stark contrast. It was like a homemade patchwork quilt: bits and pieces thrown together in a haphazard manner, but somehow, it seems to work and make sense. There are cafes, walking routes, interesting houses and residents - add to these, the infamous Pusher Street, where hash and cannabis are traded quietly. I erred on the side of caution and didn't bring a camera or phone even as there were still (rare) reports of visitors being attacked just because they were in a posession of one. The images below are from visitcopenhagen.com and zocky.me.

The entrance of Christiania. When you leave the place, you will see a sign saying " you are now entering the EU" (no visa required to enter!).

The Freetown is reachable on foot from Christianshavn Station. This is one of the weirdly-wonderful sights inside!

One of the colorful houses inside the freetown called "South Pacific" - I spy some Balinese influences! Image: Zocky.Me

Beyond Europe, Australia also has a a strong hippie enclave in Byron Bay. Many question its actual authenticity, but nevertheless, it's worlds apart from what people normally know about Australia - a country more famously known for its strong surfing community. I, myself, was surprised to find that the hippies were well and alive in this idyllic coastline! Dreadlocks, patchouli, natural fabrics, and creative types all littered the shores and streets of this destination that has a free-spirited vibe.

I always find it fascinating to immerse myself in the subculture of a place: the one that don't normally make it to travel guides and blogs, the movement that goes under the radar of most travellers, the underbelly of a city that barely makes a blip on visitors' compasses. It provides me with a better insight into the most-often bypassed rumblings and activities that happen under the glittering skyline of a city.

2. READ BOOKS BY LOCAL AUTHORS

It can also be works of writers who have experienced the destination first-hand, or those whose narratives are set in the destination I’m going to. Reading novels before a trip – whether fiction or non-fiction, fires up my anticipation for the destination and I feel like I already have a personal connection with the place before I even set foot in it! Some books also provide local insights that I can use during my visit, or they mention cafes, streets, restaurants, or train stations that I wouldn’t have had a knowledge of if I hadn’t read it there! These authors give me a better, more nuanced perspective of places – suddenly, everything has a meaning or a book-memory attached to it! My train ride in Sri Lanka wasn’t just a way to get from Galle to Colombo– it was an epic adventure that Paul Theroux waxed poetic about in his book, in the chapter titled: “The 16:25 from Galle.”

Reading books after my trip prolongs my longing for the place (especially when I’ve fallen in love with it) and enriches my memories of my travels. I’ve always believed that words have a powerful link to our emotions and affect how we view the world; reading - for me - feeds my imagination for that certain place and helps me retain a stronger connection with it. Here are some books I’ve read through the years that I highly recommend:

1. AMSTERDAM - Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

2. AUSTRALIA – In A Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

3. MYANMAR – Burmese Days by George Orwell

4. SOUTH AMERICA – The Motorcyle Diaries by Che Guevara

5. SOUTH EAST ASIA – Tell Them to Get Lost by Brian Thacker

6. SRI LANKA – The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux

7. TURKEY – My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk

3. TAKE A CLASS IN THE DESTINATION

When I told friends I was going to Phuket, they thought I was just going to while away my days on the beach, topping up my tan and sipping coconut juice from its shell, and dancing the night away at the raucous bars of Patong. I mean, sure, I did all of those, but for my first time in Phuket, I actually took a week-long Muay Thai class! I could always take the class in Singapore, but wanted to do something that would push my personal limits and enable me to have a taste of local culture. I took beginners classes in 4 different fight clubs for variety, and met local fighters and fellow foreign & local trainees who became my friends during the week-long affair. It was a different way of experiencing this island that's more famous for lazy beach days: my mornings consisted of 1-hour training runs, hopping on huge tyres, and sparring with fighters (some of them even had broken noses and black eyes from ummm, a very interesting night). My noontimes were spent recuperating and napping exhaustedly on the shores of Kata Beach. Then I repeated the training from 3PM onwards. At night, we would all go out for Thai food and drinks. I had so much fun despite the sore muscles and aching legs (even my organs hurt, haha!)!

ABOVE: Inside one of the Muay Thai training centers I went to in Phuket. BELOW: When in Buenos Aires, do the tango!

Instructor: 1, 2, 3 ... SEXXXX! ;-)

Taking a class gives you a richer perspective of what a destination has to offer. It’s especially rewarding when you’re truly interested in the local offerings they have. In Argentina – it being the birthplace of a famous passionate dance - I took tango lessons. In Rio, the epicentre of the colourful Carnival, I was obsessed with having a night out for samba dancing with Salguiero, one of the most well-respected samba schools in the world and Carnival champions. It was such a wildly-fun and electrifying night, being able to dance en masse with strangers who share my passion for dancing, samba, and everything Brazilian! Those dancers have quite the stamina with the fancy footwork and furious dance moves!

This is the fun-chaotic vibe at Salguiero. Was told not to bring anything of value, so I left my phone and GoPro behind in the hotel.

Image: Wanderlusting4Life

So what are you waiting for? Go take that class, read that book, sign up for that alternative walking tour, and revel in a richer travel experience beyond the usual!

HAPPY TRAVELS! x

#listicles #Europe