Of Chows and Dhows

Hello friends!

I hope you are all doing well in light of the Corona Virus pandemic. We are currently living in uncertain times and getting breaking news every few hours is scary and triggers anxiety. While social distancing and isolation is paramount in this season, it can be difficult, boring and inconveniencing. You have probably had to cancel upcoming trips and future travel. So what do you do when the travel bug bites and you can not do much about it? Below are 5 ways to help you cope with wanderlust as you self isolate.

Sort out photos and video footage from previous trips

This is a great time to go through your gallery. Sort your footage, create online albums, edit and post them if that’s your style and most importantly, back them up. This frees up space on your gadget and a trip down memory lane can be oddly therapeutic. Relive beautiful moments, remembers sights and smells and laugh at your travel Ls.

Consume travel content

Switch up your watch list and include travel movies, shows and documentaries. This is the best time to maximize usage of your subscriptions. Some of my favourite shows are The Amazing Race, Our Planet, Salt Fat Acid Heat etc. More on what to watch here.

Catch up with your favourite travel content creators  and learn a tip or two. Follow their trips across the world and interact with them on social media. Here are some travel content creators you can check out.

Social Media. One of my favourite channels is Pinterest. It has so much information and I love using it to plan my trips. Instagram and YouTube are also great resources to discover new places and connect with locals.

Read travel books. If you are a reader, there are plenty of books that will transport you to places around the world. Novels about travel are many and so are guidebooks. One of the most popular travel books is Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love with good reason. Here are some more book recommendations.

Travel blogs are great alternatives to books. Discover new bloggers, binge read and bookmark posts from your favourite blogs.

If you enjoy listening to podcasts, add podcasts about travel to your list. Some of my favourites are the Mwende Bwino podcast, Passing Through, Zero to Travel and Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel Podcast.

Try a new hobby or activity

We now have more time on our hands thanks to social distancing and isolation requirements. Enroll in an online course to learn more skills. This is a good time to try something new be it Photography, editing, writing, indoor sports and games. Cop yourself some board games here and here.

Enjoy foreign cuisines 

Food is an integral part of travel as you get the chance to sample new dishes and eat what you do not usually eat back home. You can download recipes online or watch YouTube videos of how to prepare popular foods and snacks from different countries. It helps if you are very curious about a particular country. So for instance making Nigerian food if you are interested in learning more about Nigeria.

Start planning your next trip

This is can be quite daunting and thankfully we now have the time to plan trips. This is the best time to do more research about destinations you want to visit. Find out when the best time to visit is, which areas you want to visit, what are the must see and do things, accommodation based on your budget as well as costs of living and travel expenses. Pinterest and Google are your best friends for research. 

Bonus:

• Listen to music from different parts of the world- especially in foreign languages and dance while you are at it.

• Join online communities and forums. There are so many Facebook groups with tons of information about different destinations.

• Learn a new language. Ever wanted to learn a new language but did not have the time? This is your chance to do so. There are many websites that teach languages. I personally use and would recommend Duolingo. You can also try Babbel.

I hope these tips help you scratch your travel itch. Stay safe and please remember to sanitize and self isolate.

Sending you lots of love and positive vibes.

Until next time, Bye!