Decorative Art

The Perks Of Slow Traveling   by Stuart Hely

Slow travel is my favorite mode of traveling. It allows for a more intimate discovery of your destination and you also dramatically lessen your impact on the environment as a consequence.

Most traveling done today is nothing more than package tours with tight itineraries in as short as 3 days to a week. The schedules are set and tourists are herded from one destination to the next. The fun of self-discoveries and the serendipitous unfolding of the experience are reduced into a timed and mechanized exercise.

I don’t criticize package tours, I just lament at the loss of the romanticism of slow travel. I know most travelers do not have the luxury of time. Their vacation leave is limited to a week or two tops. So, they cannot do anything but make do with what is available to accommodate their schedule.

However, for those who have the luxury of time and the freedom of movement, slow travel is a great way to experience and explore a region. It usually involves settling in the neighborhood for a few weeks to a few months and giving yourself the opportunity to experience the locality as the residents know it. It means immersing yourself in the community and making wonderful discoveries of local culture and lifestyle.

Some of my best trips are done in slow travel mode. My itineraries are not schedule-driven but rely on the spark of inspiration. I usually go for a walk, a hike or ride a bike and I always make it a point to stop and talk to the locals on my way to wherever I fancy.

Slow travel has led me to dine in the most exquisitely delicious restaurants that no hurried tourist are aware of. It has led me to find a delicate and intricate antique necklace whose value shocked me to the rafters. It has also directed me to one of the most beautiful secluded spots on earth. Traveling slow has also introduced me to several notable individuals that have enriched and continue to enrich my life. These are just some of the most beautiful memories I have gained in my days of taking it easy and soaking it in.

When traveling slow, you don’t just scratch the surface of your destination but you also get to have a more a meaningful glimpse of what makes a destination or culture extraordinary. Doing so not only allows me to know the place and its people but also offers me an opportunity to know myself even more intimately.

So, if you have the chance, try travling slow, relaxing and answer the primitive call of adventure and discovery. You will be delightfully surprised at what’s in store for you.

About the Author

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