So, you think you are a real traveller? Think again! Possibly, you are not used to the traits of that vagabond lifestyle. You might confuse yourself with a travel freak, but trust me, there are points that will surely at one point or the other separate you from the real one. Check out if you have these traits to decide whether you are truly a 'traveller', or just a 'tourist'.
1. You are not used to surprise changes in plans
Do not like those last minute changes, do you? Well, that's what travel is all about. Change- of place, people, routine and mundane. Travel is about momentarily changing the way you are leading your life and stop doing it for sometime, so that you can come back to your regular life after again after sometime.
But, usually, people are so occupied with their mundanes that they often forget to enjoy that momentary change. It is difficult for them to adjust to changes of travel plans, dates, missing buses and an odd day on the road, as they took a break to break free from chaos - not to embrace a new one!
Travellers on the other hand are used to finding a wow moment from the crisis. They do not get bogged down for a trip postponed but find a moment within the existing space to experience and learn. For them, travel is all about finding a new moment - every single time.
2. You are suffering from FOMO
Ever heard of F.O.M.O - Fear of Missing Out? A tourist is often affected by FOMO. He is in a hurry to cover everything before the days pass away. He aims to cover as many places as possible as he might not decide to travel until next year same time.
As for a traveller, it is more about connecting with the space. It is about knowing and trying to find out little more than the 'visitors' or 'passerby's', who come and go to rarely observe the unsaid and untold. They seek to uncover the secrets which are not meant for those who are mere passengers and are certain to miss out on the joys of travelling without the fear of losing anything
Eventually, you will definitely miss out something, no matter how hard you try! Why not wait instead, and enjoy what you can at this moment!
3. You do not search for places less travelled
A tourist has a set itinerary. That is what they pay for to the agents. That is what they would not like to miss out from their tour plan. A tourist's plan is as predictable as his routine life! He does not want to step out of the comfort zone and move to unpredictability. He would rather choose to postpone his plans than stay unawares of what's coming next. His tour plan is like monthly bills - that will come to him without asking.
A traveller is a person on-the-go. He has no set plans or itinerary. He chooses a place not to look for his luxury but to find something that has kept from the rest of the world out of ignorance. He acts as a bridge between the traveller and the untraveled.
4. You Judge A Place By Mass Reviews
A tourist is a person who gives business to the travel industry. He is someone who can be driven and moved and led through the set patterns of a destination. He is a part of that large crowd that sees what everybody else does. He looks for the 'famous' places and led by 'mass reviews'.
A traveller on the other hand creates new opportunities. He does not follow the crowd. He is not bothered where the world leads. He seeks his own direction. He has his own compass that directs him to find newer lands. He is on an expedition, to put new pins on the map. His quest for knowledge is unfathomable.
5. You Fear Too Much of Being Left Alone
Fear of being alone out there is one of the worst fears that separate a tourist from a traveller. How do I find my way? What if I get into trouble? How do I ask for directions? What if the people there lead me the wrong way? A tourist mind is clouded with questions of doubt and fear. It is the tourists' motivation.
A traveller's motivation is his anxiety. It is that urge for 'wow' after enduring to reach a place that one has never been to before. It is a sigh of fresh air and a stretch out after conquering that summit. It is waking up to a sunrise that peek through the crevices of his tent, that brings him the energy.
