Maps have their own value. But when road-tested, they really are just a piece of paper.
The easiest way to get lost in a new territory is to plunge ahead without knowing which end is north. But to a (independent) traveler, this is a goldmine of opportunity to interact with the locals. After all, traveling affords meeting people. How else to better meet new ones than to break the ice and ask for directions?
Get “Live Updates” from the Ground
Even ice cream vendors can be sources of information on where to find the cheapest lodgings
Even with language barriers (another reason why you need to know at least a handful of useful phrases), asking for directions and not relying on your Android map adds a human element to your travels. Maps maybe good, but people on the ground are even better. They know which public transport passes by which street; where to get off; how much to pay; and what time the last bus or boat leaves for the day. Local knowledge of the area is helpful to avoid going around in circles (although that in itself is sometimes a learning opportunity), so tap the most up-to-date information from those who have been there all their lives.
Don’t think that you are a bother; most people, especially in Southeast Asia, would just be too willing and even eager to help, especially if such an opportunity allows them to show off their intimate knowledge of the place. ‘Exploit’ this eagerness to share information while genuinely building a connection. They would feel good at having helped a stranger, and you would get the information you need to ‘connect the dots.’ That’s a win-win!
The Way to Spend Like a Local Is To Ask a Local
Local children may not be gold mine of information, but they know which path leads to your accommodation
Having broken the ice, you also get to dig deeper for bits of insider information that is not as often shared even in review sites. Locals would know where the cheapest accommodations or restaurants could be found, like those that have escaped rave reviews but are as obvious as daylight to anyone who has stayed in the area long enough.
Accommodations, for example, are notoriously tourist-priced for the simple fact that most travelers are willing to pay a little bit more to be spared the run-around of having to call and compare so many establishments. But if you chat up with locals, they are likely to point you to places where traveling salesmen stay, or where locals spend the night when they get stranded in town.
These accommodations, while not up to par with five-twinkling-star hotels that are meant to create impressions to the tourists, are more than enough to provide you with a place to sleep and shower without leaving a gaping hole in your wallet. If you are the non-picky kind of traveler who would want to cover more mileage than your peers with the same travel budget, street-level information gives you a head start.
Of course, not everyone could give you an entire, or even accurate, picture. But if you talk to enough number of people, you are likely to complete the puzzle yourself and figure out which end is up.
Photos by Cherry Vic Patalita
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Article by Chris
Chris had a passion to contribute to society especially to fellow travelers like himself. He also had a passion for Southeast Asia and frequently visited. While brainstorming ideas, he decided that a travel blog dedicated to his favorite countries, Thailand and Singapore, could be more beneficial than any guidebook. Only one year later did the blog’s success bring in more writers, more countries, and more readers.
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