Be a traveler, not a tourist

Two weeks ago I went for a very short trip to Nepal. In many ways it changed my way of thinking and made me realise how much I enjoy being a traveler and not  just a tourist.

When I was a little girl, me and my family traveled several times with those huge tourist group packages. I remember being to Disney World following a red sign and a bunch of people. We  were going where they wanted us to and when they wanted us to. We were  just seeing what  they wanted us to see. Years after I went to Miami for shopping without even seeing the beach. And even went to the typical summer break to Cancun. It was good and I enjoyed all these trips. But it was because I didn't know what was it like to be a traveler and not a tourist.

What's the difference? You must be wondering. Being a tourist is going where they are telling you to go, being carried around to and site seeing museums and the must-see landmarks of each city. It is spending heaps of money in fancy hotels  and drinks on the beach.  I'm not saying that's not fun or that I don't like it. I think this is just the perfect vacation. But it is not the way to really know a place and its people. It just depends on what are you traveling for.  I travel to see smiles, I travel  to see people, I travel to see moments.

And all these just strike me in Nepal. Realising that I enjoy way more seeing people than places. I did everything as the locals do. As they say: while in Rome, do like the Romans. I met my American friend Daniel and started our trip walking to the Kathmandu's bus station and  buying a ticket to Pokhara in a public bus for that evening. Then it became more interesting, when we decided to go to Baktarpur in a public bus. It cost less than half a euro,  but it took us 2 hours to travel 30 km. The bus was stopping every 100 meters; picking up and letting people  out. The bus  was packed. It was quite nice to see the faces of people smiling at me and some expressions of amusement. The fact that I have small eyes and dark skin, but don't dress like them nor speak their language always makes them wonder where I am from. Usually that's what triggers the conversation. And if they can't speak  English they try with gestures. I love to say that I'm from Guatemala because everyone always say I'm he first Guatemalan  they have ever met. This  makes me feel special.

Baktarpur  was quite interesting. It seems like the town is frozen on time. We saw many interesting sacrifices due to the  festival of Durja Puja. On the way back we took the  wrong  bus, and reached a different bus station. We could have just hired a taxi and reach the other station, but we wanted to do it the hard way! That's  what makes the trip interesting! That's the  adrenaline, that's the challenge! We had to walk for some blocks because no bus wanted to take us there. Finally we got into a public tuk-tuk. These are bigger tuk-tuks that resemble trucks on the back and can carry up to ten people. This one was driven by a lady, which  was  extraordinary. She took us to a  place where we could take a bus to reach the station. All the trip cost less than one euro and took more than an hour.

In the station we went to have some momos. The other customers were looking at us as if we were Martians. They are no used to see foreigners  eating in local restaurants. Anyway, I had the greasiest and most delicious momos ever.  Sometimes the locals don't let you experience their life. If you ask them about places to eat or visit,  they mention the typical tourist places. It's not because they don't want  to share, its because they expect you  to be more comfortable doing the usual  tourist trips. For example, if I get on a bus, they sit me on special seats near the driver, probably because they see I'm a girl traveling alone. And if I ask for a train they send me to the most fancy cabin, sometimes at the same rate. Until you gain their trust and show them that what you want is a recommendation  based on  what they do, they share the most secret and amazing places. Just  this week I met Koko the guardian of one of the temples in Bagan, Myanmar. We became friends and he took  me  to the ruins  of a monastery. I had the best view of the city from there. Koko even told me I was the first person he had taken there.

I strongly believe that the best way to  know about a country is to hear the story from its people and to try to see and experience their lives. It shows you the same scene from another point  of view. Besides, until  you meet the locals  you are able to destroy stereotypes.

I love to find new paths, not just the one the map shows. I travel to see people, to  see smiles, to see moments. Because those can't be captured on a  photograph or be found  on  Google images. Being a traveler you realise that even the most stunning landscape is not complete without a personal story.