How To Be A Better Tourist: A Question & Exploration

Last November, I embarked on the trip of a lifetime: a three week solo trek through India.

The excursion was part-independent study, part-work, with plenty of precious blank canvas in between. Think equal parts introspection and stimulation, somehow existing in miraculous cohesion with each other. I am very grateful for the privilege that was this adventure.

But, (there’s always a but!) preparing for the trip didn’t come without a sense of apprehension. Weeks leading up to my travel, I became verwhelmed with how to show up to this foreign country as an American tourist and respectfully honor and engage with the culture, the people, the land.

How does one dive head first into a new place with sincere curiosity, engaging in a way that isn’t exploitive or extractive? How can I reject the stereotypes that might exist the white Millennial tourist from the west? Was this possible?

I quickly realized I have not engaged in enough meaningful dialogue on the topic. Oy. Perhaps for the first time, I was holding up the mirror to the highly extractive behavior that is likely many of us western tourists when we go abroad.

Thinking about this made me feel reluctant, but became productive. I decided to sketch out a few ideas, guidelines of sorts, to support my process as I traveled to India. I’ve been reflecting on these principals and my experience in hindsight, and I hope by sharing these ideas below, if nothing else, it prompts our awareness of a necessary dialogue we’re overdue for.

Here is what came up for me:

1. Engage in meaningful conversation with locals. Speak less, listen thoughtfully. In my experience, expressing curiosity and asking questions was earnestly received. Some of my most memorable conversations began with my asking of questions to the owners of small cafes, locals shopping at the produce market, taxi drivers. Exchanges that are so often transactional have such potential for authentic and reciprocal exchange. This kind of organic interaction binds us as humans.

2. Set aside tech. The first week I was away, I made a conscious effort to completely disengage from my phone, other than the essentials like WhatsApp and the occasional Google Maps. It’s amazing what comes of this exercise - that stillness, the inevitable discomfort - and I find it unlocks so much potential for presencing ourselves. I challenge you to stop and ask yourself “why?”, the next time you are traveling and find yourself mindlessly scrolling through Instagram. What better time for mindfulness and intentionality than while visiting a new place?

3. No photographs please. I enjoy capturing moments, and have for as long as I can remember. My attitude towards travel photography has changed quite a lot in the last year, though. I find myself begging the question: why the urge for this content? Will these photos be a source of joy later (very likely, yes!)? Are there also moments I’m merely feeding into my ego’s need for external validation (looking at you, IG)? All this to say, I found that taking a step back and questioning my pre-existing patterns shifted my relationship with photography more than I would’ve expected.

4. Eat local, with locals. With an open mind, a healthy curiosity and an eagerness to explore under-the-tourist-radar culinary experiences, the best hole-in-the-wall cafes seem to come out of the woodwork…and make for the most cherished memories. Typically these gems are a ways away from the central tourist hubs. They’re probably not on the travel apps, either. (The content on these platforms may or may not be served to you by big corporate capital, and may or may not support the economic wellbeing of small businesses.) If you can, nurture the vitality of small, locally owned restaurants with your dollars.

5. Support The hustling, conscious entrepreneurs: chefs, historians, spiritual teachers; they have much to offer – and what a productive way to support the local economy directly by engaging with their services, workshops, and meet-ups. Interested in the cuisine? Sign up for the cooking class hosted by a local-owned homestay or yoga school. Or, maybe a historical bike or walking tour is more up your alley. Private, small business ventures are not always the easiest to find (most will not have sponsored ads on the internet…), so keep your eyes and ears peeled. I discovered a couple's startup, Bicycle Trip Goa, in Panaji, Goa via a handmade poster in a restaurant where I ate dinner one night. We met up the next day and had one of the most memorable afternoons of my trip, winding through the historical capital on bikes, learning the rich history, making not one - but two -stops for delicious pastries.

While a solo trek to India may seem like a far out scenario of how this consciousness-shifting-while-traveling could take shape, I would argue the work can (and should) begin must closer to home. Striving for a more self-aware frame of mind doesn’t require a passport. Let us continue to challenge and support each other as we strive to take steps towards owning our responsibility in how we show up, participate, and reimagine a future that’s more human-centered.