The Food Pursuit
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As if it’s not already apparent, I love food and I love to see the world. In spite of this, the one situation where I hate both at the same time is on an airplane. Let me paint the picture. I don’t do well in cramped spaces, I don’t enjoy the smell of airplanes, and to make matters worse, I’m petrified when cabin crews wobble up and down the aisle with trolleys. The smell of food diffuses throughout the plane and the dreaded question comes along: “Chicken or beef?”. I’ve always wondered no matter what I choose, there will be some disappointment and loss of appetite after a few bites. I force myself to eat the most modest amount so that I wouldn’t be hungry, and I understand that I shouldn’t expect five-star quality 30,000 feet above ground level. Still, there must be a reason why the quality of airplane food improved only by minimal increments. I did some research and here’s what I found.
Over the years, people I’ve come across continually ask how I manage to travel so light. To put things into perspective, they would normally see me lugging around a backpack with a 24” suitcase for several weeks to month-long trips, or a backpack with a 21” carry-on for a one-week trip. The most extreme I’ve done was a 24”, carry-on, and a backpack for the sake of shopping. What I do is no secret. It has come with experimenting and learning what works for me. Here’s a look at the simple things I follow.
Any enthusiast traveler knows the importance of doing their research before heading out. This is especially important for those traveling on tight budgets because through research you get a better estimate of what you’re looking to spend. That’s why part of my research for traveling revolves around determining how I can get the best bang for buck. As a little travel tip, I recommend those going to Taiwan apply for a Youth Travel Card to get a variety of discounts.
Since we’re in the middle of summer AKA travel season, I thought I’d share my opinions of traveling with tours. First things first. I do not hate travel tour companies and I have definitely used one in the past on some trips. I believe a travel tour company is a prime choice for those who are busy people or just like being taken care of and don’t have an urge to seek particular things for themselves. That being said, I would like to share why I tend not to travel with a tour.
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