Travel is a person’s way of expressing desire for something new, whether you’re conscious of it or not. People take trips for multiple reasons: visiting family, leisure, exploration, or charity. They seem like incredibly different reasons, and have varying intentions behind them, but you can’t deny how escape from the “personal norm” drives all forms of travel. Once you open up to this ambition, you will find yourself being captured by wonderful experiences that could ultimately change your life and your perspective of the world around you. Take these tips in mind.
· Go for the thrill
Upon arrival to Costa Rica this summer, I knew I would be faced with endless opportunities to expand my knowledge and to connect with other people. This was exciting and instantly I found myself jumping into activities that normally would’ve frightened me. The most adventurous excursion we had on our 9-day tour was the Selvatura Canopy Tour in Monte Verde. There we zip lined on 14 different cables, which took us through the dense rainforest and high above hills of untouched greenery. The scenery was beyond anything I had ever seen and I was even blessed to have a beautiful red macaw fly alongside me as I zipped across a 300-meter cable!
http://www.monteverdeinfo.com/canopy/selvatura/index.html
The zip-lining experience is different for everyone and you never know what you might see, therefore, I highly suggest anyone visiting Costa Rica to take on the challenge even if you’re scared of heights. There’s no need to panic for It’s incredibly safe and the guides are excellent; don’t let fear overcome exhilarating opportunity. After all, travel is meant for breaking personal boundaries.
· Seek Cultural Emersion
With travel, the clashing of cultures comes inevitably, whether you’re driving just outside of town or flying to a foreign country. Residing in Central America made me nervous at first because I was exposed to people who lived entirely different lives from mine. However, one observation in La Fortuna helped me overcome that hesitant attitude. There, our group visited a tiny school where children grades k-6 shared a single classroom and teacher. The children were delightful! They sang for us and beamed with radiant smiles all the way through- simply happy with our presence. They’re friendly acceptance caused our group to relax and soon we found ourselves dancing, communicating, and playing games such as hot potato with them. Most of us didn’t speak the same language, but we had no problem getting through. Most of us came from privileged families while these kids came from poverty, but that had no effect on the love we shared. Wherever you go, take time to learn the stories of the people. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to connect if you look past the differences.
· Form New Relationships
The greatest gift I obtained on my exotic endeavor was the formation of an unbreakable friendship with my schoolmates, Zach and Ashley. Prior to the trip, we had no established relationship and I felt uneasy about traveling with strangers. After a day of exploration though, we became inseparable. Once I realized they were just as uncomfortable as I was being around new people, it became easier for me to talk with them and I found two new friends whom share common interests.
http://www.arenal.net/la-fortuna-waterfall-costa-rica.htm
It’s up to you to make the most of your trip. It’s one thing to cut yourself off from the culture; it’s another to block those closest to you out. If you’re ever on a tour, make it exciting by fearlessly jumping into new relationships. You’ll be glad to reminisce with someone later on.
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