Songdo South Korea
Circling the globe poses challenges.
My life feels like a vacation most of the time.
Sometimes I face resistance.
Conquering obstacles makes traveling fun.
Being a digital nomad is not all sunshine and roses. I love this gig. But I also shine the spotlight on the downsides of being on the road.
Resistance arises the moment you leave your comfort zone.
Even experienced travelers face resistance.
Identify and conquer these common travel challenges.
1: Language Barriers
Before Google Translate I pantomimed like a caveman.
I cannot lie; it works.
Language barriers seem most challenging in money matters. How much does something cost? Point to a calculator or phone. At least almost everyone in tourist areas knows these two English words:
“How much?”
Cue the pointing to a calculator or phone to see how much it costs.
I do not suggest trying to set up a mortgage in a foreign land where you speak not a word of the local dialect. I do recall a farang from the States who sent his Thai girlfriend to purchase material for his new home. He got the Thai price not the farang price; never mind how she actually communicated with the employees at the hardware store.
Learn a few key phrases in the native tongue before arriving. Use apps to fill the gaps if need be.
In most cases, locals who work in tourist areas know basic English. A few become highly fluent in the English language.
Traveling a distance from tourist spots means being creative or learning more than a few basic phrases for most tourists. Or in the case of Kelli and I during our house sits in rural Panama and rural Costa Rica, we speak passable Spanish. I am semi-fluent. Kelli speaks it freely.
2: Getting Lost
I highly advise NOT traveling with a phone in pocket for a few hours daily in a new location.
Leave it.
Walk around town using:
- the intuition
- locals
- directions from locals
to hone your inner guide. Get a lay of the land in mind – sans technology – to avoid getting lost.
I do this everywhere. I almost never get lost because I know where everything is in my mind. Use your limitless memory first not a limited app.
Travelers develop a strong psychological attachment to a phone.
Prep for:
- spotty connections
- crashing apps
- inaccurate GPS pins map grids
Learn what apps the locals use to avoid getting lost in the first place.
For example, Waze became our go-to app in Panama based on local – and expat – feedback. The app became more dependable there than Google Maps.
Download maps for offline viewing.
3: Cultural Clashes
Face saving ways in Southeast Asia surprised me.
The customer is always right in the States.
Not so in SE Asia; intentionally embarrassing someone – causing them to lose face – creates problems. Some extreme.
I recall an expat from Brooklyn telling me in Chiang Mai:
“Giving someone the middle finger while driving can get you f*cking shot.”
He was not kidding.
Be nice. Be kind. Be pleasant. Be polite. Treat people how you wish to be treated. Live the Golden Rule to ease through cultural clashes. Most people understand. Locals know if you do not know the culture.
Being respectful by reading the room solves any cultural barrier.
I research cultural differences beforehand. On arrival, I open my mind, eyes and ears to read the room. I then do as the locals do. Easy peasy.
PS….Leave the “I live in the greatest country in the world” mindset in your homeland to gracefully accept local culture versus judging it ruthlessly. I recall seeing a kind but travel newbie couple from Missouri walking around Chiang Mai noting how they do things in Mizzou compared to Thailand. I gently reminded them:
“True enough but you are in Thailand now.”
The duo smiled, nodded and understood.
4: Missing Flights (Buses, Trains, Taxi Ride)
I have never missed a flight, bus, train or taxi.
Why?
My wife and I get to the airport 3 or more hours early. We arrive at the train, bus or taxi station 30-60 minutes early.
We never break this rule; especially after experiencing a few close calls.
Airlines work with you if it was their fault. If it was your fault, this is a casualty of travel. Do your best to get on the next flight. Or get a room – or chill in the airport – until the next available flight to your desired location.
Different places offer differing options. Be calm as you negotiate. Some airlines may put you up in a nice room or offer a flight refund.
On our first trip, China Airlines put us up in a snazzy Novotel in Taipei for our 23 hour layover before the flight. Nothing went wrong because this was factored in to the trip but it shows you how some airlines do it up for you to offer convenience.
5: Missing Baggage
I spent a week waiting for my luggage in Nicosia Cyprus.
Kelli and I flew into Northern Cyprus. The walled capital scenario complicated things. Turks are not allowed to enter Cyprus.
After going back and forth with Pegasus Airlines reps on Skype for a week I sprinted to the border to meet a Turkish guy smoking a cigarette at the border. I kid you not. He handed me my luggage, nodded and scuffled off.
Anyway, contact your airline the moment your luggage appears to be lost. I give the carousel 30-40 minutes for a busy flight to yield my carry on. File a form. Follow up daily with the airline. Be persistent without being pushy.
In a worst case scenario, write it off as a downside of circling the globe. Losing your luggage means an unexpected trip to the store. For most of us in the Western world, this minor annoyance is not a real problem.
6: Financial Problems
I have lost some scratch on the road.
I found a way out of dire financial straits.
First off; do your best to prevent the situation. Boost savings. Travel like a minimalist. Be shrewd without sacrificing your quality of life.
Budget lodging works fine. Consider house sitting to live in beautiful homes or apartments for free.
Keep your credit card handy if things go south. Fly home to get your finances in order. Future trips await you. Boost savings for your next trip.
7: Getting Sick
I came close to biting the big one in India.
The culprit? Giardia.
Giardia does not kill you. Becoming severely dehydrated because you cannot get food and water down for 10 days in a humid environment can kill you.
I unfortunately suffered through this experience in southern India. The doctor told me my pulse was “feeble.” He did not kid.
I gradually recovered. Wicked powerful medicine, rest and relaxation cured me.
How do you avoid getting sick on the road?
- drink only bottled water
- eat only fruit requiring peeling
- eat at street stalls with a heavy turnover
- take preventative probiotics
Be calm if you fall ill. Rest, hydrate and let your body heal itself.
Remember; laws of health not dis-ease exist.
But if your conditions worsen, head to the pharmacy or hospital. I guarantee that other tourists suffer from the issue. Skilled pros point you to the cure.
Conclusion
Hop over travel challenges like flying over hurdles.
Trot the globe with confidence.
Travel obstacles never need to be roadblocks.
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