How to Grow the MOST while Travelling?

[ZenSwift]

So I am traveling to India and then I also plan to travel to Thailand and possibly other surrounding countries after that. The whole thing will be 3 to 4 months. I come here today to ask for tips and advice on how I can use these experiences to grow the most as an individual to really take advantage of the opportunity that I have here.

Literally my goal is just to grow as much as I can.

How does one grow the most while doing solo travel? What are Traps to avoid that will stunt my growth while traveling?

Thank you guys. I've always deeply appreciated your insight and support over the years. Much love to you all. 

[Schizophonia]

What does that means ?

Just enjoy your trip, visit public spaces, talk to people if you can, eat local dish...

 

 

[Majed]

@ZenSwift do pick up there  

[ZenSwift]

@Majed definetly for sure gotta do pickup there!

 

 

[Alex_R]

Go to Hostels and talk to ppl

[Porphyry Fedotov]

Just do whatever you're feeling to lol. Try local cuisine, and talk to locals. In India, it's super easy. For example, I'm an introvert who enjoys keeping to myself - but in India, you will be forced to talk with very friendly locals like a lot. Indians are fun, curious and super-friendly people. Visit local temples, participate in customs and rituals, hike etc.

Travels will bring you to situations you would never end up living in your country in one place. And growth happens when we're out of our comfort zone. When you travel, It will happen naturally by itself.
Which cities are you planning on visiting in India and Thailand?

[ZenSwift]

@Porphyry Fedotov I plan to visit all over. 

Rishikesh, Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Etc. 

[Samsonov]

@ZenSwift Hi, I went to a very similar journey a lil over two years ago, in India as well , for seven months. It was he most transforming period of my life, so I can really connect to your question and the sense of adventure.
My advice would be: remember you a on a hero's journey, choose the path less chosen and form your own adventure, the most meaningful interactions will be unexpected, follow the mysterious, the white rabbit.
And  more explicitly in the east I would recommend to immerse yourself in the local culture, rather then stay in hostel , do pickup and only talk to other tourists... India in particular will teach you many profound lesson about humanity, tradition and karma.
Have a good trip! and remember your core values, they will be tested and challenged , try "litti cholka" in Varanasi:)

[ZenSwift]

@Samsonov thanks! I'm still confused about what the hell to actually do! 😂 Other than just walking around the cities!

[Samsonov]

On 25/12/2024 at 3:58 AM, ZenSwift said:

@Samsonov thanks! I'm still confused about what the hell to actually do! 😂 Other than just walking around the cities!

you'll talk to people, observe, yes walk around, try the local cuisine, visit notable places and learn about the history of each place and how it connects to the world and to you.
Yes you will have a lot of free time, so you learn how to fill that free time, as India doesnt offer many tourist attraction, or dosnt offer once that are worthwhile. 
For me, I learned to play the guitar while traveling, I used to find a quit spot and practice. Meditation and reading were key habits as well.
Some people find it hard to acclimate to the slow pace of Indians, it can take up to an hour for the food to be ready! 
That's a thing to work upon, you know, just enjoy being there, satisfied just breathing.

Last thing that helped me, which connects to what I previously wrote about the hero's journey, is that you should look for the lesson in each experience, or each day, treat it like a quest if you will.

[ZenSwift]

@Samsonov thanks for the tips! I'm learning lots of stuff on reading people's intentions!

 

I'll keep note to get into a Routine, especially when I go down to the South. 

[Terell Kirby]

On 12/12/2024 at 6:53 AM, Porphyry Fedotov said:

Just do whatever you're feeling to lol.

This .. but also plan out a list of experiences you would like to embark on.

[ZenSwift]

Okay so here's an update:

I've been to Dehradun, Rishikesh, Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Jaipur, Ajmer, Pushkar, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Indore, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Mumbai, North and South Goa. Next is Gokarna, Hampi, and Banglore, then Kerala if it still makes any sense. 

I did Bhaang in Udaipur, which is a THC edible. I was high for 2 days. Not fun. Horrific trip, but I survived. I think I might post the trip report. 

I went to Kumbh Mela. Did the holy bath, went on antibiotics for 5 days to save my life after that. I wish I did at least two days there, rather than just one. 

My original goal with Travel was to expose myself to as much experience as possible. In the spirit of Leo's video: Expose Yourself to More Experience. Now, just being somewhere on the opposite side of the world does a lot. But I'm feeling like I've maxed out the gains of just being somewhere else, I need to look for deeper experiences. 

 

Since Varanasi, I've been pretty bored. And it even started back in Pushkar. I enjoyed it a lot more when it was rougher. I've noticed I really don't like areas that cater to tourists - - it's very hollow. Also I don't feel really challenged anymore. It's more of the same. In Goa, the beach is nice to look at, it's nice to get in the warm water, but that gets old after 2 days for me. The whole sitting on the beach thing is not my jam at all! At this point, I miss working on projects like writing my book, building my skills, I want to be contemplating things, expanding my consciousness. It all feels like distraction being here! Deep career success, Awakening success, and relationship success is what I'm after now. 

I do want to look for some dating experiences as well. As I am now in the south where it's a lot less conservative. And I really do like Indian Women! I am also considering using hinge premium dating app in addition to being very intentional about going out and talking to tons of people. Perhaps I'll be significantly more successful with socialization here because I'm a unique foreigner? I've noticed it's challenging trying to make friends when you're moving around a lot. Moving around is in a way me surveying the landscape to see what I really like the most. Then when I find a spot I really like, I'll come back in the future and just spend a month there, writing a book, and I think I'd enjoy finding a routine of working on my craft, socializing, eating well, and enjoying nature. 

I realize I appreciated the experiences of walking in the villages the most. Untouched by tourists. When you're in a place where people meet a foreigner for the first time, it's something special. People want to shake your hand, take photos with you, sometimes they'll even buy you a meal or some tea. Plus prices are not artifically raised for you like they are in the tourist areas. 

I've also noticed that the rougher it is, the more radical the living situation, the more it is challenging to survive there, the more I'm out of my comfort zone - - the more rewarding it is. When I see some rough shit, I have a renewed appreciation for what I have. 

I do plan to still go to Thailand, Vietnam, Phillipenes. And my mother happens to be joining me for that. As it just lined up that way. So that could be a great bonding experience. 

I also believe I'll grow more when I get back home as well because I'll get that contrast once again. 

I've had a lot of stress I created for myself worrying about the money I spend while traveling. Being too conservative with my money caused me lots of unnecessary suffering. The way I've remedied this is by asking myself: "Will spending this money help me grow?". That gives me permission to not get so worked up over things costing money. 

[RendHeaven]

@ZenSwift We demand a PUA debrief!

[Schizophonia]

1 hour ago, RendHeaven said:

@ZenSwift We demand a PUA debrief!

I didn't know you are also into curry foids lol.

 

[RendHeaven]

11 hours ago, Schizophonia said:

I didn't know you are also into curry foids lol.

@Schizophonia I'm not - I just want to spectate his rizz!

[Spiral Wizard]

Visit Ashrams. Attend retreats. Go to very different events, like tantra workshops and good mainstream parties if available, connect with a bunch of people, ask if there are community WhatsApp groups. Also talk with people you usually would not talk with. Talk to natives. Go places you would not go to usually. Be curious. Don’t just skip around chasing for the quantity of experiences although that can be a valuable phase as well but actual growth happens in quality and depth. 

Go to the west of Koh Phangan in Thailand if you want the full digital nomads meets tantra hippies quantity of connections immersion experiance. 

Go alone into the Himalayas for the introspective, depth experiance. 

Brainstorm with GPT.

Edited February 9 by Spiral Wizard

[OmniNaut]

@ZenSwift If you come to the Philippines, come to Malapascua, scuba dive with different types of sharks. Learn about them, understand their ecosystem, anatomy, behaviour and so much more.

If you don't know how to scuba dive, don't worry I can teach you.

Skip Manila and Cebu cities, just use them as point of entry.

Go for:

Luzon island: 
- La Union: surfing
- Baguio: mountain city
Bicol area:
- Donsol: swimming with whale sharks (in a natural way, other places like Oslob they feed the whale sharks that upsets their natural behaviour)

Visayas:
- Siargao: surfing hotspot of PH
- Siquijor: upcoming nice chill island
- Palawan/Coron/El nido: beautiful beaches, waters, swimming/diving with ship wrecks and Dugongs

And of course Malapascua, the scuba diving place 😉 where you can dive with Thresher Sharks, Tiger Sharks, White Tip Reef Sharks, Black Tip Reef Sharks, Coral Cat Sharks, White Spotted Bamboo Sharks, and if you're extremely lucky we have the occasional Scalloped Hammerhead Shark and Whale Shark.

There are still so many other good place, some touristic, some not touristic.

❗Don't go to South of Palawan, and west of Mindanao, those are unsafe areas for tourists
❗Don't forget to fill in your etravel before you arrive https://etravel.gov.ph

 

If you want more info, just DM me.

Edited February 11 by OmniNaut