Icould Travels So Can You

Sometimes it makes me sad to see people give up on traveling because they think they cannot. Although they would very much like to travel, they think traveling is a kind of skill only some people have. They are mostly wrong, traveling can be learned.

I have some friends back in Turkey who would make excellent travelers if only for once they’d make the leap and start to travel. But instead they spend years asking the same questions and “getting ready”. So I decided to help you get ready. There is not so much to be prepared for anyway, it’s all in the mind.

The first obvious obstacle in front of starting to travel is of course finances. Although you do need money to travel, you shouldn’t take the amount you spent during your 1 week holiday in a resort hotel by that famous beach and multiply it with the weeks you want to travel for. First of all, when you travel, especially for a longer time, you gain by not paying some bills that you have to when you are settled, such as water, electricity and telephone bills. If you normally live in a big city like Istanbul, it is also very likely that the total cost of your monthly accommodation will be less than your monthly rent. The best way to figure out how much money you will need for traveling in a certain place, just like other things, is to ask people who have done it before.

Although it is normally against the law to make money with a tourist visa, there are many people who do that and make their money along the way. You may have a certain talent or something you produce but of course the most important thing is what is in demand where you want to go. If you make music or perform, you can make street performances in most places in Europe. If you are a good looking young girl you can make pretty good money as a hostess in Japan and finance your further traveling (it is not uncommon among travelers). If English is your native language you can teach in places like Philippines or Brunei where teachers are in demand. Perhaps one of the most common ways to make traveling money after busking is selling handicrafts in local tourist markets. If you are creative enough you can make pretty good money in the flea markets of Goa.

And do not forget that once you start to travel you will learn to reach the cheaper alternatives. You will find out the local restaurants and take some local transportation, which will all be cheaper than the touristic ones. You won’t have to lower your standards to the point of discomfort but you will learn about those things that you always had but didn’t really need.


The second big mind obstacle people have between them and traveling is fear. What if I cannot find a place to stay? What if I get my money stolen? What if nobody speaks English? There are so many what if’s that it is simply impossible to answer all of them. It is always good to remember that, even when we live in the supposed security of our hometowns, there are still many such questions one can ask. What if you are robbed? What if there is a traffic accident? It is better to filter the questions and ask only those which will help you be better prepared.

How do you know how to move around, where to stay, what to do when you travel? Well, if you don’t like the travel guides like many travelers, the internet is full of great sites who’ll give you all sorts of information. But the best way to get relevant information is to ask people. Once you are on the way, you will meet other travelers and it will become a natural part of your interactions to inform and get informed about the road. The best options are rarely listed in internet sites, far less in travel guides. You learn these things as you go along.

Many people feel insecure in new places. Today’s mainstream culture is built on fear and all the movies, all the news and many modern stories tell about unfortunate events as if they are the norm. You are constantly told that you are only secure when you are behind a strong and locked door, at home. One reason I want to help people to start traveling is to make them see for themselves that this is not true. Perhaps you also don’t believe that the world is so full of crime but knowing feels really good and can change your feelings about life in general and traveling helps it.

To play it secure you can use travelers cheques or a credit card. Money transfer services are pretty common around the world these days, in case you’ll need to get some money sent. Never carry all your money in cash. Also divide it to few portions and put them in different places so if you loose one it is not all you have. Carrying a little bag hidden inside your clothes is also very common. And after you have done these please stop being paranoid about your money being stolen.

There are places which are more dangerous than others. Usually there is more crime in cities then in rural areas and there is less crime in countries where the distribution of wealth is more even. Still, I think, one of the most important things is your attitude. If you look very flashy, as if you are carrying a fortune in your valet, of course, you may attract some hungry people. Same apply for being paranoid. So leave your Blueberry, laptop and other gadgets home; you won’t need them anyway. Avoid looking like a rich tourist (even when you are one) and also show it with your attitude. Travel light, and travel with a light which will create a shield around you.


Although most people would prefer to have a good travel companion, traveling alone has its own benefits and is not that bad at all. You will have much more time to think or meditate and random people will approach you more often. You’ll make many friends and you may even receive more invitations. The best thing about it is that when you travel alone you feel free, independent in doing whatever you want or going whichever direction you desire. And when you come across fellow travelers it is a greater joy.

There are many marginal questions which in most cases depend on what you are planning to do. If you are going to do hiking you may need shoes and if you are going to China learn some Chinese. When you are missing something it may become a good learning experience depending on your attitude. I had great time with people I had no verbal communication with and I can laugh about getting wet and being saved by some angles along the way. This is about trust in the universe.

Attitude matters a lot. If you are paranoid, you may actually attract some of the things you fear. If you are suspicious of people, it is unlikely that you’ll inspire trust in people anyway. If you are negative in your attitude and accusing, you are actually asking that your experience teaches you a good lesson about these. After all my traveling years I can easily say that what they meant by “who travels more knows more” is this. When you are in a completely new place where you don’t know and where nobody knows you, you are completely face to face with yourself. “A new place is a negative mirror” says Calvino. When you travel you learn these things much faster and if you get the feel for “making your way” than you may also get wiser. Of course, there are some people who interpret things very differently and keep on traveling being complete a**holes. Well, ask them about their experience and you may see that they are still learning what they have to, but perhaps the harder way.


Some last words for the traveler of the near future:

- Travel light. With your initial insecurity you may take lots of useless things with you; drop them along the way.

- Be responsible for your own health. Discover which local foods agree with your personal digestion and be your own doctor. Carry only a little natural medicine.

- Learn the art of making friends. Carry things between places. Give as you receive.

- And most importantly, enjoy it! Traveling is fun.