Travelling is all about experiencing new things and people who are afraid to let their senses go often fail to experience life at its best. Some of the best things in life are often ‘sugar coated’ with ugliness and you have to get past this fear if you want to become a real traveller. I’m not asking you to be an Ian Wright and eat cockroaches or bulls testicles. But a certain degree of flexibility is a must while travelling.

Experience The Local Cuisine

The first and most important rule for any traveler is to experience the local cuisine. Wherever in the world you are, there will be something which you haven’t tasted before. For example, in Mongolia, guests are often treated to a dinner of goat’s head. The eyes and tongue are considered a delicacy and refusing is akin to insulting the host. Are you brave enough to eat it? Many westerns find Asian food difficult to digest.

And in places like India the food is extremely varied and it will take a lifetime to try everything. Street food is probably the best reflection of the culinary side of the country and this is something which you must be eating. Places like Bangkok, Morocco and Bombay have some of the safest and best street food around the world.

Every country will also have its own staple drink as well. What’s the point in travelling to Thailand and drinking ‘Carlsberg’? Ask the bar tender to hit you with something a little bit more ‘local’.

Travel On Foot Or Cycle

Whenever you can, you must take the opportunity to investigate new places on foot or by bicycle. This is a great way to actually experience the sights, sounds and smells of the place. Walking through the alleyways is a far cry from taking a taxi to your destination. It will definitely be worth the experience even if your calf muscles are sore at the end of the day.

Most importantly, you need to let yourself go and forget what you read in the travel books. Experiencing everything through your eyes is the best way to travel.