Everyone has a travel philosophy which can be broadly divided into two categories – those who want to see and do as much as they can and those who just want to get away from society and recharge. I fall somewhere along the spectrum as do most travellers. However as I’d learn and am still learning through the years, even on the same point of the spectrum, there can be subtleties. But whether it’s travelling with friends or by myself, I’ve never deviated too far from the core principles which are very much in line with my ideology in everyday life.

Travelling is expensive but fortunately I’m not a huge spender. Big ticket items are usually food and accommodation because it’s okay to indulge and pamper myself a little when I’m on vacation. And I don’t usually splurge on things for myself but rather some small gifts for friends, colleagues and family. Transport fares add up too though I’ve never been much of a cab person at home, much less overseas. And even if it means lugging around 100 pounds of luggage onto the trains and buses, I’ve seldom call or flag a cab because I don’t believe in spending more if public transport can get me to my destination just fine.

I’m always connected, even when I’m on vacation. I get a little peeved if the connection drops because it’s typically at a critical juncture, like when I need it to get directions somewhere. I’m not your usual camera-touting, Hawaiian shirt tourist carrying around foldable maps. The modern traveller today eschews paper maps, favouring digital ones. I like to pretend as though I’m a local when I’m overseas and that means knowing where to go from the get-go. A friend once told me that holding maps and looking lost just makes one a prime target for pickpockets, scam artists, and undesirable characters in general. Those are some wise words and from then on, I’ve never carried paper maps or appeared at a loss.

Being confident and playing the part involve a lot of preparation. I have to make it look like I’m just going about my routine and not a tourist who has just arrived in town. So I rarely wing my trips and instead do a lot of research about the places, directions, and everything in between. And by a lot, I mean hours. Although I have a higher level itinerary in place before I leave for a vacation, I’m a last-minute researcher leaving the actual detailed planning to the day before. I’m meticulous to such an extent that sometimes it borders on being obsessive as I plan down to the minute details such as transport timings, station exits to take, food to try, etc. In essence, I require the following day to run like clockwork.

I like a little regularity in my life though spontaneity can inject a little excitement. That demands a lightly-packed schedule which gives me the flexibility to slow down and smell the roses. I particularly enjoy spending time in street-side cafes people watching. Some may lament it’s a terrible waste of time overseas but I guess it’s all about the priorities; I prefer a slightly relaxed pace than a mad rush to see everything and be everywhere. If there’s so much to do, I’d rather return for another visit. That said, proper planning enables me to see and do more without spending too much travelling to and fro.

The one convenience the modern day traveller have today is technology, and when I travel, I’m fully-equipped with almost everything but the kitchen sink. While people typically carry a spare set of clothing in their cabin luggage, my carry-on almost exclusively contains electronic devices including my laptop, cameras and lenses as well as power banks. I learnt on a previous trip that the laptop is mighty than the tablet with the former allowing me to be more productive. I’m not the type who takes a lot of photos during trips but I believe in having a decent camera with the right lens to snag a good shot when it matters. And the extra juice, it keeps my phone running the whole day.

It’s often said that technology is an enabler and I wholeheartedly agree with this statement as it has very much granted me independence while travelling and at the same time, given me avenues to ping loved ones that I’m safe and sound. A few years ago, I’d have been apprehensive about visiting non-English or Mandarin speaking countries on leisure trips for fear of language barriers. Technology, though, has reduced the need to have a strong grasp of the language to travel around easily in a foreign land. Today, my fear has somewhat been allayed, so much so that my next destination will probably be one where English or Chinese isn’t the native language.