This week marks the kick off of November’s Indie Travel Challenge. So many cool people have come out to play! Read some of the responses we loved to this week’s questions about why people travel, what they’ve learned, and their hometowns, as well as why local information matters so much! Join the party and maybe you’ll be featured next week!
Today marks the end of the first week of the Indie Travel Challenge and we’re off to a great start! With tons people participating, so far, we’re getting lots of great responses shared on Twitter. Search #Doyouindie and have a look at all of them for yourself! There’s some great material here that we know you’ll want to connect with and share.
Each Friday of the ITC we’re going to share the questions for the week and some of the responses we loved. If you want to be considered for next week’s round up, be sure you’re using the hashtag: #doyouindie when you share your post on Twitter. That’s the only way we’ll know you’re in!
This week we asked:
Why Do You Travel?
Gregory Rodgers of Vagabonding Life
“I spent over seven years sitting in this cubicle, burning up my 20s, and knowing that something was very wrong but not sure how to fix it.
After some research into various escape options, I came across Rolf Pott’s book Vagabonding; it was like a slap in the face. I levitated around for weeks, planning in secret, and not sharing my new dream with anyone.”
I continue to travel in order to learn, to discover, to challenge myself, & to inspire #doyouindie @BootsnAll pic.twitter.com/J9sQS58S6C
— Robb Saunders (@Robb_Saunders) November 1, 2015
Dani Blanchette of Going Nomadic
“I travel to learn. Because I think travel is the best way to learn. It’s hands-on learning by doing. And it’s way better than anything you’ll ever do sitting in a classroom.”
Ramblings of a Redhead Wanderer
This super awesome 14 year old girl is about to take off on the adventure of a lifetime with her family. Here are a few of the reasons she wants to travel:
- I think it will help round out my education.
- Being exposed to different cultures is, I believe, a super important part of education.
- The food! I’m also a developing foodie, and I can’t wait to taste new dishes. Expect some posts about food!
At first, it was simply a means for escape. Be it school or work, travel gave a way to take a break from the busy schedules and stressful situations. Now, it has become so much more. I travel to immerse myself in new cultures, to meet new people, and to have new experiences; to test my boundaries and discover just how far I can push the limits of my being. Why do you travel? #DoYouIndie #vscocam #vsco #lblogger #tblogger #travelgram #traveladdicts #mytravelgram #igs_asia #igtravel #guilin #liriver #rtwtravel #whywetravel #karst #landscape #wanderlust
A photo posted by Michaela Jayne (@mchljyn) on Nov 1, 2015 at 6:57pm PST
Halley O’Reilly of Little Talks
“the decision to travel for me came from a deep wanderlust formed when i was a kid. i longed for long airplane trips that would take me to far away places where i could be immersed in culture and learn and see new things… i continued to travel because it becomes a part of you. once you allow it to, you’re never the same again.”
2. Why do I want to travel? Maps inspire me, but looking at them from the couch is not enough to satisfy my curiosity. I travel not to lose any of the opportunities that life gives us. To know people. #doyouindie #rtw
A photo posted by Joan (@araiaqui) on Nov 2, 2015 at 7:13am PST
How is having experiences better than possessions?
Bittersweet to give up travel books but streamlining life is liberating Less baggage more travel #DoYouIndie pic.twitter.com/jic7AbfiIS
— Christine V (@Vaz921) November 3, 2015
Ashley, An American Abroad
“When you’re settled in one place for a long time, you acquire things. It finally seems like a good time to upgrade your pots and pans, or you receive artwork as a gift. It’s an investment in your home. This makes it harder to see the truth: you don’t need all of this stuff, and it can actually be harmful.”
@BootsnAll experiences win hands down! We went to Japan with over 200 lbs of stuff and left with less than half! #DoYouIndie
— Jesse & Suzanne (@hotfootrini) November 3, 2015
Day 2 questions How is having experiences better than having possessions?Answer: As I watched my best friend die of…
Posted by Travel South America on Monday, November 2, 2015
Gretchen Jones, Roaming Jones
“Traveling with few worldly possessions is so liberating. I love that our kids learned to live one year with only what they could carry, and though they missed some things, it was pretty much a non-issue. “
Experiences last for as long as you remember them,but possessions are forgotten as soon as they are gone.#DoYouIndie pic.twitter.com/p6AdGWz9jG
— Two Monkeys Travel (@2MonkeysTravel) November 2, 2015
What has travel taught you?
As a kid I would escape into books and correspond with foreign penpals, always wanting to know how others live, what others call home. In college I finally got the courage to go, see other worlds first-hand, and a year of studying abroad and solo travel saved my life. Travel has given me more strength, grace, humility, wisdom and happiness than I ever could’ve imagined. Here I am at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro – the daydreaming little girl inside of me still in awe of the accomplishment. #doyouindie #questionone #adaylatesorry @bootsnall
A photo posted by @postcardsfromsarahb on Nov 2, 2015 at 10:48am PST
Lolo Wanderlust
“When you let go of planning and ‘to-do’ lists, is when the magic happens. Whatever pushed you to walk out your front door with nothing but a backpack and a flight is nurtured by letting go of deadlines and expectations. “
Day 3 of BootsnAll #DoYouIndie challenge – What has long-term travel taught you?It has taught me to pack light. lol To appreciate the local culture. To enjoy life more.
Posted by The Adventure List on Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Nikki, Where is Noodles?
“When you spend enough time with people who are actually living on next to nothing, but still lead happy lives, you realise that as long as you’re not living on the street or going hungry, you don’t “need” all the money in the world or the best-of-the-best possessions to have a fulfilling life. “
Travel has taught me teenagers, my teenagers, are awesome. And I can live without a dishwasher – although I’d like to have one. #DoYouIndie
— Fite Inertia (@FiteInertia) November 4, 2015
#DoYouIndie Questa vignetta dice tutto//This cartoon says it all. @BootsnAll via @NewYorker pic.twitter.com/Xz6qkJflWt
— inpartenza (@3inPartenza) November 4, 2015
Hometown Travel: Show us something local
@BootsnAll Indie Travel Challenge #4 – Local Travel: #Bishkek‘s Philharmonic is a traveler must! #DoYouIndie pic.twitter.com/dILuofSZyW
— Stephen Lioy (@slioy) November 4, 2015
My highschool hang Stardust Coffee/Film is still my fave #Orlando gem.I was a #hipster ahead of my time #DoYouIndie pic.twitter.com/csfjmmn1Oj
— Kelsey Ann (@WendAwayTravel) November 4, 2015
Cristina, LooknWalk
I find it hardest to write about my home town . Why? Because I am so damn used to it! For me nothing is “awesome” anymore, although for many people it may be.
Shout out to my two favorite craft coffee houses in #Denver!Copper Door Coffee Roasters (I miss you since I moved…
Posted by Travel Safer on Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Hot Foot Trini
“TO DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM,
TO FIGHT THE UNBEATABLE FOE,
TO BEAR WITH UNBEARABLE SORROW,
TO RUN WHERE THE BRAVE DARE NOT GO.”
“Little did I know at the time that the words I sang applied to Waterloo’s own folk hero, Siewdass Sadhu.”
Christmas time on Main Street in downtown #Franklin #Tennessee. #DoYouIndie #rtwchat @BootsnAll pic.twitter.com/eluZBMCKtw
— Kaylene Chadwell (@KayleneChadwell) November 4, 2015
#DoYouIndie Hidden Gem Desta Ethiopian Cuisine in Atlanta! Best Ethiopian Food @BootsnAll pic.twitter.com/yKVQ4MYXy0
— Nellie Umutesi (@Adven_Chica) November 5, 2015
Tell us about a time local information changed your travels
Always eat where the locals eat #DoYouIndie
— Global Squatters (@GlobalSquatters) November 5, 2015
Sean Keener
““Indie travelers value local information over received information”
I like what the full value says. It doesn’t mean “received” information is bad, it just super duper awesome to get a local view or interaction.
Think about it, do you want to travel the world, and hang out with people from your city/country? It feels safe to do so, but is it as expansive?
For me, I just love and feel loved when I put myself out there in other places and take that risk. Say Hi. Ask a question. Get out of the major tourist hubs where the local interactions are more often “built” for you.”
New to the area where we live, so asked locals til we found 1 of our favorite foods: #pupusas! #DoYouIndie https://t.co/I7t885SWlT
— Mojito y Cafe (@mojitoycafe) November 5, 2015
Join us as the Indie Travel Challenge continues:
Photo credits: soft_light , Daxiao Productions , Maxim Blinkov , Ditty_about_summer , l i g h t p o e t , canadastock