Thank you for being patient while I was gone on my trip. 1592 photos later, I'm home.
Want to know where I went? Ok I'll tell you. I was backpacking and traveling unplugged in the UK.
Want to know what traveling unplugged is? Ok I'll tell you.
It's simply traveling without having to be the center of attention. It's traveling sans social media. Instead of thinking "this would make a great instagram photo/facebook profile" you have the freedom to savor, relish, ponder, reflect, experience, and truly BE where you are. YOU chose the adventure and YOU should be able to experience it without accolades and validation from anyone else.
When I traveled in Israel last year, I did not go unplugged. My phone was always in my hand and WiFi hotspots were like gold. Not to say my trip wasn't amazing, it was. But there was something so exposing about NOT having phone in hand.
In the UK mine was in my pack unless I needed my google map app or an Uber from the airport. Instead of a selfie in Trafalgar's Square, I ate my sandwich in the sun and listened to the musicians playing, watched the school children in their uniforms on a field trip, and soaked up the history in the ancient stones I was sitting on. No one had to know I was doing it for it to be worth something.
I know this might make some people uncomfortable, I was too at first, but let me encourage you to try it. For me, it made my trip mine. It gave me the freedom to have experiences without stopping to post/update/tweet or check who liked my photo. In the words of Frozen...Let it go.
For safety purposes I did let my parents know when I was at my lodging most nights. They also had a rough outline of what town I'd be in/traveling to in case there was an emergency. Other than that I maintained internet silence.
Now obviously I'm a blogger {shocker I know} and travel is a large part of why I started this blog, to show that it doesn't take a Lonely Planet expert to have an amazing travel experience. By showing you my blunders and successes hopefully y'all will be encouraged to try it yourselves.
Alrighty, well as I said...there are 1592 photos waiting to be organized and a lot of posts to be written...stay tuned. For me...bring on the coffee...