Rough travels, a life without check-ins
Nowadays on social media, there is no shortage of exquisite travels: internet-famous scenic spots, internet-famous stores, and even internet-famous shooting locations; carefully making travel guides, capturing wonderful views, and having finely retouched photos... But over time, people's thresholds are getting higher and higher, and they gradually become tired of such assembly-line travels. The "refined WeChat Moments against a rough life" is no longer attractive.
Therefore, "People" magazine launched a call for submissions on "unrefined travels" and soon received nearly 600 responses. Readers from all over the country told their travel stories. Some people enjoy the scenery immersively without wearing makeup, taking photos, or being a "tourist commando". Some people go wherever they want without punching in at popular spots, queuing up, or making travel guides. Some people sleep on stained bedding and eat undercooked meals but are moved by a wild wolf howl. Some people encounter a group of interesting friends while strolling on the streets of a foreign country. At that moment, "a small patch of the Milky Way swims across the upper reaches of my soul."...
As written by @Lexi: Exquisite travels are all alike, while rough travels are unique. And these diverse travels have a common direction, that is, to rediscover the charm of traveling itself.
A new world unfolds slowly before our eyes. The strangeness, unknown, and surprises brought by distant places reopen people's senses that have been closed by the fast-paced urban life. In many moments in the future, those unexpected fragments encountered during the journey will become ropes to escape the mediocrity. "I know I can leave immediately and live any kind of life."
Here are everyone's "unrefined" travel stories.
Unexpected surprises of a spur-of-the-moment trip
“Why not let there be more ‘suddenness’ in the journey and allow some unexpected things to happen.”
@Mo Mumu, 32 years old, female.
In April this year when I went to Gansu, it was extremely cold there. The flowery clothes carefully prepared were not worn at all. In the end, a thin bean-green padded jacket supported my entire journey. The wind was very strong and there was a lot of sand, yet it became my spiritual nourishment for a year. I savored it for half a year and still found it delightful. What impressed me the most was that on the way back home by car after coming out of Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple, unexpectedly, the mountain I saw at Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple followed us all the way. It was truly spectacular! I was a bit sleepy on the car and was about to take a nap in a daze. When I looked up, I saw continuous peaks like knife cuts. There was snow on the mountains and also in front of the mountains, scattered sparsely on the vast expanse of black soil in front of the mountains. Leaning against the window and looking closely, the black soil was not entirely barren. There were also large clumps of black grass curled up in clusters separating the thin snow. I wanted to go towards the mountain, but the mountain seemed to come towards me. The train kept moving forward. The snow-capped mountains with knife-edge peaks got closer and closer to me. When it was extremely close, suddenly, the scenery outside the window fell into darkness. We entered a tunnel. We were passing through the mountain. After falling into darkness countless times, we bid farewell to this group of mountains. When I came to my senses, I was already in tears.
@Sylvia
On the way to the destination on a business trip with my leader, I, who am extremely prone to motion sickness, didn't get sick. The companions I was with also had a great chat. Along the way, we encountered a vehicle carrying ducks and roosters. Watching the little ducks and roosters with their feathers standing on end due to the wind was extremely cute and lively. Although business trips are very tiring, there are also many happy moments. In the past, I thought work and life should be separated. Now I think work is a part of life, so we should also cherish the people and things we encounter at work and live in the moment.
@Everything | Inner Mongolia
I once went to Paris. It was truly a mixture of embarrassment and freedom. In the early morning, looking at the lights of Passerelle Debilly, I rode my bike in the underpass, as free as a gust of wind. At 23:15 at night, I encountered an unknown clock. I thought to myself that in a city that is not my hometown, it seemed as if I had witnessed its 24 hours. In three days, I shuttled between two cities. After staying up all night, I went to take an exam. There were many unforgettable moments, but I only remember taking a long, hot shower and having two dishes after coming back. I slept from 11:00 to 17:00. In the evening, I washed all my clothes and brushed my shoes. In that April, I stood by the window, smelling the fragrance of flowers and enjoying the evening breeze. I felt that youth was on my freshly washed white T-shirt.
@Jiang Yue, 28 years old, female.
There are quite a few three-day holidays in normal times. We can only go to some places that are neither too close nor too far away, which makes it extremely difficult to choose. I particularly dislike planning my itinerary in advance. Moreover, starting from New York City, it becomes a very difficult thing to buy tickets at the last minute.
Once during a three-day holiday, we wanted to play around nearby. We searched on Instagram to find where is good. But looking at what everyone posted, we felt that they all looked similar and quite boring. So we asked our friends and then were recommended Breakneck Ridge Trail. We were really very spontaneous. We prepared in the afternoon and went there in the evening. After driving to the foot of the mountain, we started a two-day hike.
Before going there, we had no idea what it was like at all. But we met an aunt at a farmhouse who cooked extremely delicious food for us. After going up the mountain, we didn't originally plan to watch the sunset. The owner of the only hotel nearby said that some people were going to watch the sunset, so we went to watch it together. After watching the sunrise the next day, we slowly walked down from the mountain. Looking at some random little flowers and grasses by the roadside would make us particularly happy.
So in my opinion, traveling may not need to pursue extremely distant places or extremely famous scenic spots. It can still bring a very good experience.
@healer, 23 years old, female.
When I was bored in class, I casually flipped through the map and my finger slid to the nearby small islands - Hengsha Island and Changxing Island. Suddenly, I felt that I should spend a weekend there. After class, I bought a ticket. I took an overnight sleeper train and then a long subway ride and ferry journey. On the island, I rented a bicycle and rode around the island. Unexpectedly, I waited for the sunset on a foggy day.
There are not many travelers on the island. When riding to remote places, I would be a little scared. It was in this state of uneasiness that I moved forward, feeling both nervous and excited. At night, lying alone in the hotel, I thought that since I am always in a state of uneasiness, I should take a few more steps.
@Lexi
I know I am a P-type person, but I never know where the upper limit of being P really is.
During this year's holiday, my partner and I had originally boarded the train to Paris, wanting to taste the delicious food there. Soon after getting on the train, we discovered that we had bought the wrong destination ticket. We looked at each other and smiled, and immediately understood each other's intentions - Paris was out of the question. Without hesitation, we bought supplementary tickets and headed straight to the next place to eat barbecue!
This trip can be described as sloppy. The two of us only carried a backpack, which contained a T-shirt prepared for going to Chengde. The rest of our clothes, pants, and toiletries were not fully packed. Moreover, we had never been to Shenyang before, and we had no friends there. We had no idea at all what to play, eat, or where to stay. On the train, we were only excited and didn't make any travel plans at all.
This was truly a fantasy travel - when it was time for dinner and there was no time to browse Xiaohongshu, so we simply didn't bother. We took a taxi and asked the driver to take us to his most frequented barbecue restaurant. We had a hearty meal. The meat sizzled and dripped oil on the mud stove grill. The unique sesame paste dipping sauce in Shenyang was extremely fragrant. We ate until we were extremely full. For a hotel, we found a chain hotel next to the barbecue restaurant. Sitting on the steps at the entrance, we made a reservation on our mobile phones for one night. When checking out, the younger sister at the front desk also recommended a super fluffy egg pancake to us. When it came to visiting scenic spots, the two of us gave up after walking one kilometer on foot. Seeing a theater nearby, we spent 20 yuan to listen to three hours of Errenzhuan. We took a clapping prop and shook it vigorously to create applause and obtain some of the most simple joys.
Here, we gave up all review and recommendation apps. We ate whatever we saw and experienced whatever we saw. And precisely because of this, we had a real opportunity to communicate with the locals. We chatted with the taxi driver about why the billboards were so shiny at night, chatted with the aunt selling corn about the legend of the strong women in Wai Market, and had a chess competition with an old man in the park. For a few moments, I even had the illusion that I was a local here. Putting down our communication devices, we returned to the most primitive travel state. In those 24 hours, we felt an unprecedented intensity of travel.
In the end, the two of us embarked on the train home with satisfaction and fulfillment - yes, the train tickets were also hard sleeper tickets that we managed to buy as supplementary tickets at the last minute. I think I may never forget this eventful trip. After all, exquisite travels are all alike, while rough travels are unique.
In a state of distress and fear, but extremely impressive
When the sunrise spreads over the grassland, all the inconveniences become unimportant.
@Lucky Little Cowboy, 28 years old, female.
At Sayram Lake in Xinjiang, constantly switching between enjoying the beautiful scenery and looking for a toilet was both embarrassing and unforgettable.
Temporarily escaping from the concrete jungle, in the unbelievably beautiful Sayram Lake and Hemu Village, there was a moment when I felt like I was a shepherdess growing here. The human nomadic gene awakened at this moment. Especially in Hemu Village, when I opened the door early the next morning, a cat was squatting at the door, a little lamb was tied to the grass in front of the house. Wearing a windbreaker over my pajamas with disheveled hair and no makeup, holding a cantaloupe and squatting on the ground. Suddenly, I made peace with everything and breathed freely between heaven and earth.
@Li Dahei
Last year, I went on a one-month self-driving trip in Namibia. I often didn't take a bath for a week. I would wake up freezing in the middle of the night and find icicles on my tent. There was only signal in big cities. Every day, I encountered more wild animals than humans. The tires of the car would burst. We got stuck in the desert. The soles of my shoes were worn through. My phone was crushed by the car door. Most of the time was a challenge of wilderness survival. Every day, I moved "home", packed up, chopped firewood and lit a fire, and cooked in the dark. I also had to be on guard against African hyenas stealing things and baboons robbing at any time. One day, after driving for 24 hours without encountering any humans, we unexpectedly encountered a wild giraffe in a wasteland. It was not a national park. I and the giraffe stared at each other for nearly a minute in the red desert in the dawn light. A year has passed since the end of the journey, and this scene still often appears in my mind.
For me who used to live like an ant in the city, this kind of vast space far away from modernity is too shocking. I studied the map of Namibia thoroughly, learned a new culture and worldview, and saw nature far beyond my imagination with my own eyes. This kind of experience is precious and indelible.
@Mo Yun, 18 years old, female.
On the second day of playing at the seaside, I had a fever. I felt dizzy and had no strength all over my body. I lay on the seaside balcony of the hotel for a whole day. Breathing in the humid air and listening to the regular and irregular sound of the waves from time to time... I listened to the waves all day. When I had strength, I listened while awake. When I didn't have strength, I listened while asleep... The natural environment was so comfortable. After sitting/laying outside for a day, I really felt that this was a "seaside vacation"! When I woke up during the day and had strength, I read books. If I didn't bring paper books, I read e-books. At night, I also slept outside. It was pitch black everywhere. The next day, I woke up naturally and was fortunate to see the majestic sea fog.
I really feel that this is the real travel, that is, deeply immersing myself and feeling the local place almost as a way of life. The seaside belongs to the waves, rather than running to this island and that island to play on similar beaches. In the end, saying that this kind of running around is "traveling" and then feeling the scenery by the seaside. Throughout this whole day, I was "exposed" to the seaside. I really felt the charm of vastness and tranquility covering the surging waves.
@Sweet but not strong, 26 years old, female.
I went on a "tourist commando" trip to Cappadocia in Turkey. While playing with an ATV off-road vehicle, the vehicle overturned. The ambulance picked me and my companion up and it cost 300 dollars. I injured my face, hands, and eyebrow bone. When I went back to the hostel, I saw an 80-year-old American grandpa who was traveling around the world. He said to me: "I know you are in great pain. How about having a bottle of beer?" Then he bought me a bottle of beer. He is already 80 years old. Turkey is one of his stops while traveling around the world. He showed me his new tattoo and told me about his younger brother in Ireland and the five years he spent living with his brother.
@Cai, 19 years old, male.
I drove to the filming location of "The Hobbit" in central New Zealand. I had thought it would be a large scenic area like in China with many service facilities. As it turned out, there was only a small town and a hotel. That night, the temperature dropped sharply. I shivered on the bed in the hotel and couldn't fall asleep. In the early hours of the morning, I really couldn't bear the cold anymore, so I got up and went to the car to turn on the air conditioner. At this time, the sky gradually brightened. I drove to the top of the mountain and saw a beautiful sunrise.
The car is really the most wonderful thing in the world. Sitting behind the steering wheel, the whole world is yours. In addition, when the sunrise spreads over the grassland, all the inconveniences become unimportant.
@tharsis, 26 years old, female.
At that time, we had arrived in Xilingol. Just then, a large flock of sheep passed in front of the bus and crossed the road to the flat grassland on the opposite side. Perhaps it was these sheep running on the road and the flat and expansive grassland that stirred my heart. Just as the driver came back with his things and was about to close the door and start the vehicle, I pulled him and jumped off the bus.
Walking on the grassland with flocks of cattle and sheep. Finally, after playing until we were exhausted, we were 14 kilometers away from the urban area. Seeing that it was getting dark, it was impossible for two introverted people like us to stop a car. Helplessly, we decided to walk back. Both of our phones were out of power. He took out the pen he carried with him and drew the map and the general direction on his hand. After saying goodbye to the curious little calf that had been staring at us two down-and-out guys, we set off.
Walking back to the city along the national road from the depths of the grassland. The setting sun and sunset glow were burning on the horizon. I even felt that the boundless grassland was like the sea. Coupled with this pink sky and the slightly cool evening breeze, it reminded me of the seaside cities in pictorials. Thousands of sheep were scattered and raised on the grassy slopes. The shepherd was dozing off on his motorcycle. We also saw a hare flash by, but he said it was a badger. We couldn't reach an agreement and argued. Although the scenery excited us, soon, the dark clouds behind us turned into a thunderstorm. Lightning flashed frequently like a lamp with a poor connection. A gray waterfall poured down in the mountain area not far away... And the setting sun and sunset glow had dissipated.
On the way forward, the lightning close behind us made us worried. We kept quickening our pace. Every time we passed a tree, we were worried about being struck by lightning. After walking for nearly two hours, the sky was already blue-black and we could see the lights of the distant city. The dark clouds were also left far behind. We had arrived on the outskirts of the city. Just as hope and courage were kindled, we encountered a section of road under construction. The huge mechanical equipment made abrupt and loud noises. The paver was lying across in front of us blocking the way. Fear emerged again with these loud noises and obstacles until a worker let us pass. Finally, we were considered to have entered the outermost part of the urban area. We came to a market area where many trucks were gathered. There were many restaurants and hotels for truck drivers. Already with sore legs, hunger pangs, and a parched mouth, we quickly found a restaurant with few people. The comfort that meal brought me had long exceeded the realm of taste.
Although we encountered an embarrassing situation due to carelessness and introversion, we also saw unique and unknown scenery that had never appeared in travel guides and walked on a route that might have never been walked by anyone before and would never be walked again.
People are the most beautiful scenery
We laughed very loudly. That's enough.
@Good Morning from a Dog, 27 years old, female.
Last National Day, I traveled to Japan alone. There was no plan and no destination. I just went with the flow. My 24-inch suitcase was only a quarter full. When I landed at Kansai Airport, I was quite panicked because I don't understand Japanese.
During my journey in Japan, I met a lot of very nice people. That night, after checking in at a hotel in Kyoto, I was going to take a stroll and find something to eat. At that time, I was extremely hungry. So I decided to open a restaurant blind box. I found a store similar to an izakaya and went in. The menu had no English and no pictures. There were only two set menus, so I randomly chose one.
While eating, I opened a translation app and chatted with the boss. I wanted to ask if it was safe at night in Kyoto because I wanted to go on a city walk. The boss jokingly told me that Kyoto was very safe. Otherwise, I'll accompany you. Hahaha. The proprietress punched him and told me that it was safe for you to go alone, but not safe with him.
After eating, I was going to take a bus. The proprietress really almost accompanied me to the bus stop. It was really a very warm act.
Sometimes, traveling is not the goal. The goal is to experience without a goal. Many times, not being a "keyboard warrior" will make you slow down and see more wonderful scenery. "Wherever the wind takes me, that's where I'll go."
@Romero, 22 years old, female.
I met them on the second day I came to Shiraz. Or rather, at that time, they found me in this place. It was a little after five in the evening. The sky in Iran was already completely dark, and both my phone and power bank had run out of power at the same time. I only knew that the hotel was very close to me, in a certain alley near the bazaar (market) where I was. So I walked through the streets and alleys under the dim streetlights, trying to follow my uncertain memory to find it. But there were really too many forks in the road. For safety reasons, I still returned to the brightly lit street. At this time, a group of boys who looked like junior high and high school students came over and greeted me in broken Chinese. I thought I'd take a chance. They lived nearby and might know the specific location of the hotel. They couldn't speak English, so I entered the hotel name on their phone and told them that I wanted to go to this place. But soon I found out that these teenagers had ulterior motives. They tried to lead me in the opposite direction of the destination on the map, to a secluded and deserted place. Just when I was worrying about how to get rid of these little villains, they appeared. A few trendy-looking young people carrying speakers, guitars, and handpans. I felt an inexplicable sense of trust. After some communication in a mixture of English and Persian, they understood my situation and told me not to worry. They would send me back to the hotel. Then the only girl among them asked me with a translation app, "We are going to play in the city. Do you want to join?" I said yes.
At first, I thought they were a band and were going to rehearse or perform something. Later, I found out that they were street performers. They performed for money but didn't make a living from it. It was more out of fun. In short, I followed them onto the subway to the city center. Their stage was at the exit of a shopping mall in the city center. They spread out the bag of the handpan in front and several people casually sat cross-legged on the ground, and the performance began. Its sound was so beautiful, lonely yet majestic, delicate yet vast. I originally thought it wouldn't attract too many people to stop. Although people were coming and going, from the moment they played the first note, people陆续 put money into the handpan bag. I listened attentively. When a song ended and I looked back, there were already crowds of people around. Everyone left after applauding.
Originally, the plan was that after the performance, they would help me take a taxi back to the hotel. But later, Reza was worried that it would be unsafe for me to be alone so late and drove me back. For more than half an hour's drive, four boys squeezed in the back seat and I sat in the passenger seat. We talked and laughed and sang loudly all the way. It seemed like we were old friends who had known each other for a long time. We agreed to perform together again the next day. So at the same time and at the same intersection, we met again. Seeing several familiar faces in a foreign country, although it was only the second time we met, there was a feeling of reunion after a long separation. After the performance, we went for a walk in a nearby park. When we got tired from walking, we sat by the side of the road and played the guitar and sang loudly. We chatted freely about everything. They taught me Persian and I taught them Chinese. None of us knew what the other was saying. But it didn't matter. We laughed very loudly. That's enough.
@Mary, 30 years old, female.
What impressed me the most was the first self-driving trip with my friends in 2022. We went on a five-day and four-night trip. It was a very hot summer. We went to Yosemite National Park in California. During the journey, I saw a very cute mountain that was round. I wanted to find a place to park and climb it to take a closer look at that mountain. My friends who were traveling with me all thought it was very hot, but they still accompanied me to climb it. That mountain was not high. After taking a closer look, I found that there was actually nothing. It was just a very ordinary small hillside in Yosemite. In the high temperature of 34°C, everyone was flushed from the sun because of climbing. Sweat soaked our hair and clothes, and we were in a very embarrassing state. But we stood under a strangely shaped tree, looked at each other, and then laughed heartily. At that moment, I felt extremely happy.
After that trip, I felt the joy of traveling with like-minded friends. That is, no matter what absurd thing you want to do, everyone will joke and say that since we are already here, then let's give it a try. With this kind of mentality, we can experience more. In fact, it doesn't matter if we don't look at that mountain. At most, I will feel regretful at the moment. But after climbing it and seeing it, that mountain has become a witness to our friendship. Friends are family members chosen by ourselves!
Change
Seize the moment when everything is just right and bring together endless coincidences to enjoy oneself to the fullest. Randomly wasting the beautiful scenery is disrespectful to it.
@Doctor, 24 years old, female.
During my teenage years, when packing for a trip, I would always be indecisive. Which clothes should I bring to take good photos? What main color of clothing should I match for this tourist city? These questions consumed a lot of brain cells. After careful selection, my suitcase was always filled with more clothes than I could wear during the trip. It seemed as if I were going to participate in a "travel" red carpet show.
As I grow older, the meaning of travel is different. I still take beautiful photos, but now the protagonists are different. The magnificent mountains and seas, the majestic nature, they are all so beautiful without the need for filters. Sometimes the camera also records the moment when I was there. In the photo, I am a quiet passerby. After spending more time with myself and nature, beautiful clothes no longer occupy the center of my travel. Giving up dressing up and wearing comfortable sportswear allows me to better feel the travel itself. When there are fewer restraints, I can see more beauty.
@Lizz, 36 years old, female.
Since I started self-driving trips, I rarely make travel plans. I just stay wherever I go. It can be considered the rare freedom of a wage earner. The deepest memory is when I went to play around the Bohai Bay during the epidemic. I was thinking about beachcombing all the way. When I arrived at Hutou Beach, there was no one there. I also found a restaurant in the village with good quality and low price.
In the past, I was a perfectionist when it came to traveling. I made travel plans down to every meal and detailed how long to spend at each scenic spot. After this trip, when I travel, I only set a direction. For accommodation, I like to choose small counties. Even during holidays, there is no price increase and the environment is also very good.
@A big piece of wood.
As soon as I decide where to go on a trip, a series of operations such as checking travel guides, looking for scenic spots, finding delicious food, and arranging the itinerary seem to be engraved in my DNA. But in January this year, when I suddenly decided to go on a trip to Xichang with my best friend, I didn't have the slightest thought of making a plan at all. I experienced a trip of "going with the flow." What impressed me the most was that I originally went to play in Xichang for the sunshine. I didn't bring a hat, scarf, or gloves. As a result, there was a big drop in temperature. On the afternoon when we rode an electric bike around Qionghai Lake, I sat in the back seat and pulled down the shrinking long johns in my pant legs again and again. Shivering, I finished the second half of touring Qionghai Lake. Forgive my overly straightforward language, but it was really great! There is no need to get up early to catch the schedule. There is no need to walk tens of thousands of steps a day to rush between scenic spots. If you want to play, you can stroll around more. If you are tired, you can go back to the homestay and watch silly online dramas... I won't have any regrets about the trip because I missed a certain characteristic spot because the time spent with my friends is happy enough!
@Xiaoqing, 30 years old, female.
After the exchange student semester in Europe ended, everyone went back to their respective homes. I went to visit my friend's home in Switzerland. I didn't check any travel guides at all. I just arrived at the station and waited for someone to follow. During the day, we bought groceries at the supermarket and cooked fondue. At night, we slept on the floor at my friend's house. It was very hot, so we went swimming in the nearby lake. We spent an afternoon soaking in the water. There were many people. The water was very clear and sparkling. When we got tired from swimming, we went ashore and took out our shrivelled sandwiches and took a few bites, chatting while enjoying the breeze.
When I travel alone usually, I am like a tough traveler. Getting up at 7 o'clock and queuing up to buy freshly baked popular croissants (and then immediately going to the next tourist spot) is a common thing. When I wake up in the morning and open my eyes, what comes to my mind is the itinerary and route map. At that time, I still enjoyed it and didn't feel tired or particularly anxious.
But after many years, when I recall that period of time, I can't remember the taste of the popular stores or the appearance of the scenic spots. The only things I remember are that sparkling lake surface and the taste of the dry sourdough bread in my mouth.
In the end, it is not like traveling with the carefree spirit of one's youth.
Later, it seems that there is no longer that luxury of not caring about time.
@Jiuka, 27 years old, female.
The last long-distance trip during the three-month gap before graduating from my master's degree and returning to my home country was also my first solo trip. I went to Italy, my white moonlight destination. I took a budget airline, carried a canvas bag, and traveled alone to three cities. I reserved five days for Rome. I stayed at the house of a netizen I met just before the trip. I met very good friends who studied international history. In August in Italy, one has to go out early to avoid the scorching sun and the crowded tourist waves. Walking on the empty streets of Rome at seven or eight in the morning, lingering in the Vatican for more than ten hours, and then having a gelato and going home in the moonlight in the early hours. I was still full of energy after a whole day of walking while eating ice cream. In Florence, I ate at a restaurant recommended by the front desk clerk. The filet mignon was wrapped in marinated pork belly fat, which was extremely amazing. After being highly praised, the chef even packed a portion for me. Carrying the enthusiastic pork belly fat, I took a stroll along the Arno River at night with a slight buzz. Under the setting sun, I heard someone playing the violin again. It was "Viva La Vida." Just as I was feeling emotional about life, a girl came up and said that it was so romantic that she almost wanted to cry.
There were so many beautiful moments. Looking back after two years of work and experiencing life changes, I can only sigh that it is no longer like traveling carefree as in my youth. But the seed sown after that youthful trip is a supply package of life's possibilities. Since then, I rarely have an obsession with taking life-changing photos during trips. The interactions between people, unexpected surprises, and the unique immersive thinking when traveling alone have a longer shelf life.
@Aming Sauce, 33 years old, female.
When I was in college, one evening, I suddenly wanted to see the sea. So I said in a small group chat, "Let's go to Hainan." Then a few friends bought plane tickets together. The next day, we were playing cards at Meilan Airport... A group of silly kids went to the seaside at noon and all got sunburned. More than ten years have passed, and my face still has uneven skin tone. That's the mark of youth, hahaha.
At that time, there was no concept of exquisite travel or taking check-in photos. We just wanted to go, so we went together. That was the first time I felt how free and unrestrained it was to "leave immediately." But what touched me the most were those friends who accompanied me. In middle age (I can be considered middle-aged, right?), I don't contact some of them very often anymore. But friends who accompanied you through roughness and impulsiveness are always unforgettable.
@Meipu, 30 years old, female.
The most unforgettable experience was taking a long-distance train with a standing ticket to climb Yosemite Mountain at night. After descending from Yosemite, I took a more than ten hours long-distance train hard seat to climb Arches National Park at night. After leaving Arches, I went to Salt Lake City. Finally, it was another more than ten hours long-distance train back to school.
I was less than 20 years old that year. I had no money and no experience. I was also severely socially phobic. The only things I had were enthusiasm and courage. Smartphones were not yet popular that year. There was no online ticket purchasing, no mobile phone maps, and no travel guides. The only preparations before departure could be reading a few posts on the forum and preparing my luggage based on my shallow understanding. There are too many memorable things. Chatting with strangers on the crowded train, eating sandwiches at the foot of Yosemite. Climbing Yosemite was so exhausting that I doubted life. I was shivering with cold on the top of the mountain, but the sunrise was really beautiful. The suspension bridge in Arches is really exciting. In Arches, I actually met many students of the same age. Salt Lake City is very interesting. What a delicious city!
The biggest feeling is that often there are not so many restrictions. Just do it if you want to. I will always cherish myself who had unlimited courage and execution power back then.
Escape from the ropes of mediocrity
When detached from daily life, any beautiful details you feel can support you through most of the mediocre, helpless, and less than satisfactory time afterwards
@Azi, 27 years old, female.
Before arriving in Porto, I completed the last 100 kilometers of the original route of the Spanish Camino de Santiago on foot. Porto was the last stop of my 14-day trip, and I only reserved 36 hours for this city. Completely unfamiliar, and I no longer had the energy to do research. Even the hostel was booked one day before departure. It was originally said to have 9 beds but actually had 12. The door of the shower area cannot be closed tightly. Such a trip is indeed not refined.
After getting up early the next day, I didn't make a travel plan either. I just simply looked at some of the attractions marked on the map and set off on foot. I wasn't afraid of taking a wrong turn and retracing my steps. But when I saw interesting street performers, I would stop and listen for a while. When I got tired from walking, I would lie down on the lawn for a while. Following the crowd, I walked into a winery and tasted the local specialty port wine. It was extremely sweet. After coming out, I was dizzy and happened to walk to the banks of the Douro River just in time to see a performance. A group of well-dressed guys were dancing a characteristic dance. I stood in the crowd and watched for a long time. In the evening, I ran to an abandoned parking lot with few tourists to watch the sunset. Later, when passing by a square, I just happened to see locals spontaneously dancing to music. I watched until they dispersed. At this moment, I felt like I was a Porto native.
Now thinking back, I didn't even take a single photo of myself on this trip. But these unexpected encounters have stayed in my memory for a long time and become one of the many life moments that support me through mediocre life in the future. Indeed, this trip is not refined, but it is vivid enough. This unplanned trip made me experience again the joy of wandering freely. As long as you have no expectations or worries about a strange place, don't be afraid that you can't visit all the attractions you want to see in a short time, and don't worry about missing every bit of beautiful scenery. Then every scenery you see on the road, every interesting passerby, or every wrong turn you take will be your own unique memory and experience. This kind of exploration completely out of personal curiosity will be more deeply engraved in memory. I suddenly feel that many moments in life actually don't need a travel guide. Whether it's good or bad, it's all an experience. What we need to do is to live our lives more like our true selves.
