🇬🇧 Travel light: plan only what is truly essential
Planning a trip brings a mix of emotions that can sometimes feel at odds with each other: happiness, excitement and joy blend together with the anxiety that comes when you choose to step outside your comfort zone. These feelings become even stronger when you decide to travel to places where the way of life is very different from that of the more economically developed areas of the world.
Travelling while stepping outside your comfort zone means sharing every moment with local people and letting yourself be drawn into their habits and traditions. Before leaving for Tanzania, I promised myself that I would let the whole experience carry me completely. I promised myself that I wouldn’t be a rock resisting the flow of the river but, instead, that I would allow myself to move with it. Fortunately, thanks to the Tanzanian family who hosted me and the amazing people I met along the way, in just a few days (one or two at most) I let lightness take over and allowed myself to flow with the journey.
As soon as I boarded the plane in Rome, the one that would take me into the heart of Africa after two long layovers, I had no idea what I would find before my eyes. I was only aware of the clichés we constantly learn from those who have never had the courage to venture beyond the garden of their own home. I don’t mean that what we hear on television or read in newspapers is untrue; however, the anxiety toward what is new or different tends to magnify every difficulty. The only information about Tanzania that didn’t drift into extreme negativity came from people who had already travelled solo toward new realities with an open mind or from those who had experienced something similar to what I lived in Arusha.
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| A sunset offered by the city of Moshi with a view of Mount Kilimanjaro. |
It is a shame to have to acknowledge that in Italy, people who don't let themselves be overwhelmed by clichés, especially when it comes to travel, can be counted on one hand. Beyond the Alps, however, at twenty or twenty-two years old, young people have already experienced the most diverse travel adventures because they are raised not to remain anchored to the nest of their comfort zone. This is why I hope that this blog can be helpful to those who long to travel or take part in volunteer experiences but are unable to turn those desires into reality because they are overcome by fear.
To you who are reading, I invite you not to follow those who spread only anxiety and worry; instead, listen to those who pair their advice with solutions that don't dampen your enthusiasm, but help you experience your travels in complete peace of mind.
In the title of this post, I used the verb "Plan." The truth is that, when organizing a trip, only what is essential should be planned. Here is what I believe should be arranged before setting off for a new destination:
A) Flights. Planning your flights is necessary if you want to save on the truly high costs offered by airlines in 2023. However, if you cannot book your flights well in advance, it means it is time to embark on a long road trip;
B) Accommodation during peak season. Not planning your stay in December, July, or August in the most popular tourist destinations can result in not finding any place to stay due to high demand;
C) Don't bring too many items with you; travel with just a backpack; embrace minimalism. Learn to select and bring with you only what is truly necessary. For example, you might not need to bring a lot of clothes. Two or three sets of clothing that you can wash in a coin laundry or by hand using a solid soap might be enough. You don't need makeup, perfumes or many beauty products. During a minimalist trip, your face will be so relaxed, free of dark circles, content and marked by genuine smiles that none of those extras will feel necessary at all. Too many belongings make you a slave; minimalism while traveling, on the other hand, makes you free.
D) Bring a money pouch with you to store all the essential travel documents. Keep the pouch under your clothes (preferably under your pants) and never take it out in areas where extra caution is advised. Finally, keep a prepaid card and some cash in the wallet you usually use for purchases. This advice was given to me by someone whose valuable tips were very helpful during my time in Tanzania and I want to take this opportunity to thank them again.
As for the rest, let the journey itself and the people you meet along the way make the difference. Don't plan anything else and don't assume you can control everything. In this way your travel experience won't be marked by worries but by lightness and serenity. This is exactly what you need when living in an extremely fast paced context like the European one.
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| Eradicating poverty is not an act of charity; it is an act of justice. You too can help the students of Ejo's School in Arusha. |
The most intense trips I have experienced are the ones where I planned as little as possible. I am referring to Albania, where I had booked to stay three nights in Tirana, only to cancel the hostel reservation just an hour before check-in. At that moment, the call of the sea was simply too strong. Therefore, after canceling the hostel reservation, I decided to take the only overnight bus heading to Saranda.
I am referring to Tanzania, where I trusted uncertainty, my instincts and the advice and recommendations of the local people. This led me to meet individuals who hold a special place in my heart and memory: Conjepta, Marko, Mery, Fatouma, Angel, Eliza, Patrick, Ben, Tyson, Sarah, Louis, Hassan, Ali, Ignasio, all the students of class 4 at Ejo’s Primary School whose names I still remember (Iqra, Esther, Daniel, Loreen, Shine, Johnson, Purity, Abigael, Angel, Gladness) and many other people whose names currently escape me, especially those who regularly attend Ejo’s School, Conjepta’s house and the library located in the Sanawari neighborhood of Arusha. The minimal planning added a touch of unpredictability to everything my eyes took in while in Tanzania: from the breathtaking landscapes of Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, which I thought could only be seen in the movie “The Lion King,” to the clear waters of Chemka Hot Springs Campsite in the Kilimanjaro region, where I constantly swam alongside small aquatic creatures that tickled my feet; from the markets frequented by locals to a street in Moshi without tourists where I enjoyed the view of Mount Kilimanjaro at sunset; from the distinctive doors of Stone Town to meals often shared with Zanzibar cats; from the gigantic tortoises of Prison Island to the massive baobabs; from the sunrise over the sea observed every morning from Jambiani Beach to regular swims in the enchanting waters of the Indian Ocean; from the flavors of Zanzibar street food to the waters of Mtende Beach, where I had the fortune to walk alongside the coral reef at low tide; from trips on the characteristic Dala Dala packed with locals to my first time on a motorcycle. In short, I could list the most varied activities, many of which could also have been planned well in advance. However visiting a place without the slightest idea of what will unfold before your eyes and the emotions you will experience makes those moments and those places even more authentic and unforgettable.
The culture of "Planning everything" is typical of a society that lacks balance and arrogantly believes it can control everything. If you free yourself from this mindset, I can guarantee that your travels will be stress free and full of unpredictability.
It may seem absurd what you are reading, but I strongly encourage you to give it a try. After reading this post, decide on a day to set off with your backpack toward an unknown place that sparks your curiosity. During the trip, free your mind from anxiety and worries. In those days, don't be a slave to any object. Let the present be your only priority.
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| Hi, I’m Leopoldo Lagrimosa. I’m glad you’re here on my blog. |
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