Comments on: The Skills You Need to Travel http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/the-skills-you-need/ Nomadic Matt's Travel Site Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:01:33 +0000 hourly 1 By: Ashman http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/the-skills-you-need/#comment-45478 Ashman Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:38:51 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=143#comment-45478 Couldn't have put it myself better. I've been saying the same thing to anyone who asks how I do it. I just went on my first trip solo AND staying in a hostel for the first time and when I came back people asked me, 'How did you do it?' Easy. I JUST DID. I didn't think twice about it, "fear gets you nowhere" is one of my motto. "A lot of the reason why people don’t travel is that they don’t make it a priority. " Exactly. I'm so amused when people tell me 'Oh I'm so jealous you travel, you're lucky' Lucky? I saved up months for this trip! I made a lot of sacrifices to make my travels happen so, lucky? I think not. It's just my priority. People buy expensive clothes or electronics and wonder how they can't afford a trip to the Bahamas? 60% of my annual income go to traveling. Ever notice that since you started traveling you compare prices to where it can take you? "$120 for this tshirt?! That's a return bus to Montreal" Thanks for this post. 'Adaptability' - you definitely got the word down. Couldn’t have put it myself better.
I’ve been saying the same thing to anyone who asks how I do it.
I just went on my first trip solo AND staying in a hostel for the first time and when I came back people asked me, ‘How did you do it?’
Easy. I JUST DID. I didn’t think twice about it, “fear gets you nowhere” is one of my motto.

“A lot of the reason why people don’t travel is that they don’t make it a priority. ”
Exactly. I’m so amused when people tell me ‘Oh I’m so jealous you travel, you’re lucky’
Lucky? I saved up months for this trip! I made a lot of sacrifices to make my travels happen so, lucky? I think not. It’s just my priority. People buy expensive clothes or electronics and wonder how they can’t afford a trip to the Bahamas? 60% of my annual income go to traveling. Ever notice that since you started traveling you compare prices to where it can take you?
“$120 for this tshirt?! That’s a return bus to Montreal”
Thanks for this post. ‘Adaptability’ – you definitely got the word down.

]]> By: Jimshu http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/the-skills-you-need/#comment-45434 Jimshu Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:22:18 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=143#comment-45434 Great post and yeah, I like the ''adaptability'' advice.One of the skills I have developed, is when in a new unknown place, or situation, is to blank out my mind of all external influences, and 'feel'' or sense what my inner self is saying.Trying to read my 'gut instincts' or what other senses are telling me. It's a bit like Zen Buddist meditation , but it's on the run, moving,in the immediate,etc. If the instinct is good, positive etc, it banishes fear,gives confidence to embrace the situation. If bad or negative, I'm on the lookout for that unexpected bad event.Inevitably,I have spotted it, and can avoid it. Sound weird?No.It's just making the most of your gut instinct.A gift some of us don't use, perhaps. Great post and yeah, I like the ”adaptability” advice.One of the skills I have developed, is when in a new unknown place, or situation, is to blank out my mind of all external influences, and ‘feel” or sense what my inner self is saying.Trying to read my ‘gut instincts’ or what other senses are telling me.
It’s a bit like Zen Buddist meditation , but it’s on the run, moving,in the immediate,etc.
If the instinct is good, positive etc, it banishes fear,gives confidence to embrace the situation.
If bad or negative, I’m on the lookout for that unexpected bad event.Inevitably,I have spotted it, and can avoid it.
Sound weird?No.It’s just making the most of your gut instinct.A gift some of us don’t use, perhaps.

]]> By: Rita http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/the-skills-you-need/#comment-2847 Rita Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:41:00 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=143#comment-2847 A thought-provoking post! It is said "travelling broadens one's horizon". There's some truth in it. I met a few people on the road who were always complaining because they expected standards the trip/country couldn't offer to them. If they compare foreign countries with home, they'll never be happy on a trip. The greatest challenge I had to adapt to, was travelling the Australian Outback with a broken arm. It happened on the first day of the trip. But I never thought of going home. A thought-provoking post! It is said “travelling broadens one’s horizon”. There’s some truth in it.
I met a few people on the road who were always complaining because they expected standards the trip/country couldn’t offer to them. If they compare foreign countries with home, they’ll never be happy on a trip.
The greatest challenge I had to adapt to, was travelling the Australian Outback with a broken arm. It happened on the first day of the trip. But I never thought of going home.

]]> By: trang http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/the-skills-you-need/#comment-837 trang Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:02:48 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=143#comment-837 matt, this is very beautifully said. :) matt, this is very beautifully said. :)

]]> By: NomadicMatt http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/the-skills-you-need/#comment-824 NomadicMatt Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:20:36 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=143#comment-824 @sfroshner and julie: You are right! The best skills can be used anywhere in life and I think the ability the learn to adapt can help not only in the travel world but in the "real world." You can take those skills with you in the workplace, into relationships- anywhere!! @julie- I think there are plenty of skills you need when to travel and approaching everything with wonder if one of them! @sfroshner and julie: You are right! The best skills can be used anywhere in life and I think the ability the learn to adapt can help not only in the travel world but in the “real world.” You can take those skills with you in the workplace, into relationships- anywhere!!

@julie- I think there are plenty of skills you need when to travel and approaching everything with wonder if one of them!

]]> By: backpakker http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/the-skills-you-need/#comment-820 backpakker Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:45:46 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=143#comment-820 Ah ! thats a post in itself.. Lakshmi Ah ! thats a post in itself..

Lakshmi

]]> By: Julie http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/the-skills-you-need/#comment-818 Julie Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:04:03 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=143#comment-818 The best travel skills transcend travel. In addition to adaptability, I'd add the skill of developing curiosity and wonder. Rather than imposing our own perceptions and prejudices on the situations we encounter, how about approaching everything with wonder? The best travel skills transcend travel.

In addition to adaptability, I’d add the skill of developing curiosity and wonder. Rather than imposing our own perceptions and prejudices on the situations we encounter, how about approaching everything with wonder?

]]> By: sforshner http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/the-skills-you-need/#comment-817 sforshner Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:54:03 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=143#comment-817 those are some invaluable skills that transcend travel those are some invaluable skills that transcend travel

]]> By: Travel Betty http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/the-skills-you-need/#comment-814 Travel Betty Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:28:34 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=143#comment-814 Great post, Matt! Adaptability IS the key. Otherwise, you're just fighting against a force stronger than yourself. And that's no fun! I also agree that the number one way to travel more is to make it a priority. People always ask me how I can travel so often. A lot of people even seem annoyed or angry when I say I'm off on another adventure. They feel like I'm cheating the system somehow. But really, I'd just decided that now I work to travel and so any opportunity that comes up to do so, I take it. btw, thanks for including me in your list of travel links. I really appreciate it! Great post, Matt! Adaptability IS the key. Otherwise, you’re just fighting against a force stronger than yourself. And that’s no fun!

I also agree that the number one way to travel more is to make it a priority. People always ask me how I can travel so often. A lot of people even seem annoyed or angry when I say I’m off on another adventure. They feel like I’m cheating the system somehow. But really, I’d just decided that now I work to travel and so any opportunity that comes up to do so, I take it.

btw, thanks for including me in your list of travel links. I really appreciate it!

]]> By: NomadicMatt http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/the-skills-you-need/#comment-812 NomadicMatt Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:04:27 +0000 http://www.nomadicmatt.com/?p=143#comment-812 @quickroute: Patience is a good quality to have, especially when you get stuck in a train station for hours! @tanya: thanks! @backpakker: what skills do you have? @debo: well, you are in luck- there are more elephant pictures to come. @quickroute: Patience is a good quality to have, especially when you get stuck in a train station for hours!

@tanya: thanks!

@backpakker: what skills do you have?

@debo: well, you are in luck- there are more elephant pictures to come.

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