How to enjoy a long bus ride

For everyone who has experienced it, bus travel may be one of the most frustrating things in the world. Comparable only to air travel, the length of trips that you’ll have to endure on the bus can make it difficult to handle for anyone. However, there are quite a few things that you will be able to do to keep yourself busy and stop yourself from going crazy in the process!

 

Plan your time and know what you have in store

 

When you decide to take the bus for a long distance trip, find out from the coach driver or the booking agent how long they estimate the trip will take. Use that information to plan what you will do as well as you can, avoiding long stretched of time where you’re simply sitting around with nothing to do.

 

Take along stuff to pass the time

 

Take along a backpack with anything you think might help you pass the time, make sure that everything you take along is fully charged (if you’re planning on taking along any electronics). One of the easiest ways to make sure you have a (somewhat) constant companion is to bring a laptop, tablet or smartphone, or if you prefer, bring along your handheld gaming console or e-book reader if you want variety (since you will only be able to fit around 2-4 hard copy books in your backpack, you’ll have a much easier time carrying around a thin electronic reader anyway).

 

Ready yourself for the trip ahead

 

Once you’ve set off and you have all your time passers with you, try to remind yourself that you will be stuck on the bus for a very long time, and the sooner you come to terms with that, the sooner you will be able to relax, and you probably won’t end up blowing your gasket when you look at your watch every five minutes. Also, stop looking at your watch every five minutes; you’re not doing yourself any favors!

 

Be nice to those around you and make friends

 

Another thing you will need to remember is that you and the rest of the passengers on the bus are in it together. No one wants to make the ride more awkward and frustrating by causing trouble, so take care to be courteous and friendly towards your fellow travellers. This way, you may even find yourself enjoying their company, making the time go along quicker. Even if you’re not too social, don’t go around making it uncomfortable for everyone, a smile and a quick hello every now and then never hurt anyone, so turn to the person sitting next to you or on the other side of the aisle and introduce yourself.

Things to remember when travelling abroad.

Travelling abroad may be a daunting task if the correct procedures aren’t followed. Some destinations have varying laws and regulations that must be followed when entering into their ports, and it could get confusing as to which laws apply to which country.

Not only can the customs and security element of a trip be confusing and overwhelming, but travelling within a foreign land may also become quite frightening and even dangerous if one does not have the right information.

Here is a list of a few of the things one should remember when planning a trip to a foreign destination:

1. Familiarize yourself with the customs and import laws of your destination. Upon entering the country, your belongings may be checked and found to be illegal or may warrant a fine. Checking with airlines relevant to the specific country will get you a list of all items not allowed in, thus, saving you time and possibly trouble before your trip even begins.

2. Make sure all accommodation and any activities you may have booked have been confirmed before arriving. When staying at a hotel, make sure your room has been confirmed to avoid being left without accommodation. If you happen to get into this situation, finding an available and affordable alternative may be a difficult task if you are not familiar with the area.

3. Always keep your passport, alternative identification, flight ticket and bank cards on you and in a safe place. These are considered to be your way in and out of your destination, and should they go missing or get stolen, the process of finding them or making alternative arrangements at your country’s embassy could be a lengthy process.

4. Make sure to find out before hand which areas and situations to avoid. Different countries around the world are notorious for high crime rates and dangerous areas. Criminals often make a habit of targeting obvious tourists as they are vulnerable and may not be aware of common criminal activity while on their trips. Contact the authorities in the relevant country beforehand and also ask around at your place of accommodation for any information pertaining to crime in their areas.

5. It may be important when travelling abroad to familiarize yourself with the customs and traditions of a country if it is notably different to your own. While it may be easy to brush any offensive behaviour off because you are a tourist, it is still important to identify and respect the customs of the people whose land you are visiting. For instance, western travellers may need to remember various signs of respect when visiting Eastern countries to avoid unpleasant looks and confrontations. Remember that things will be different, and what may seem unusual and offensive to you may be considered acceptable wherever you go. Accept local customs and you will be unlikely to land in any trouble.

6. Do not wait until you arrive at your destination to try to exchange all of your cash for local currency. Either do this while still in your own country to make sure that the kiosk or bank that you make use of actually accepts your currency. Or alternatively, make use of your ATM card to hold all of your money, and when you arrive, either find information on which banks will give you the best rate, or simply use the ATM card as the source of all your money throughout the trip. This will also help keep your money secure behind your card and PIN number.

Why should we travel?

Many of us are quite comfortable where we are. We have daily routines that usually play out like clockwork, with one or two memorable events in between to stop us from going crazy. We sometimes ask ourselves and our friends “Why and ourselves travel? What is the point? I have everything I need right here!” Well, the answer is quite a bit simpler than you might think!

 

Firstly, travelling is easy; much easier, in fact, than we expect. Sure, it costs money, but there is always a way to get to where you want to go that will fit your budget, and the best part is that you probably won’t have to do much of the grunt work yourself anyway. Visit a travel agent and get advice on what you can expect, what kind of destinations might suit you, and if you feel you have the right fit, they will do virtually everything for you! If you are the kind of person who prefers doing things yourself, you might even find yourself having fun watching your planning unfold before your eyes.

 

Another amazing thing that travelling will give you, as clichéd as it sounds, is an all-round education. Not only will you learn about wildly different cultures to your own (along with tasting their cuisine, which might be a selling point for you all on its own), but you will gain perspective on how they view you, learn their languages and traditions and give you skills necessary for surviving in our increasingly global community. After all, it may come in handy one day to be able to order what you want in a restaurant in Venice or China, You never know when these skills will be needed, or who they might impress!

 

On a trip to a foreign land, you will almost certainly encounter people you never would have at home, and because you’re in a strange place, making friends will be a necessary step for your survival. Making friends in a little village in India, or being accepted into a local tribe in Venezuela will give you memories that you will never forget. Travelling to these places with someone from home will most likely also strengthen your friendship with that person, giving you shared experience that you will be able to bond over for years to come.

 

One of the most important reasons why travelling should always be an option is because, well, why not? Everyone needs an adventure every once in a while, and being able to take a break from your real life for a while might get you to appreciate what you have a little more, and when you get back, you may find yourself more excited than ever to get back to work and see all the people you normally see so that you can share your experiences with them.