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Timely article (albeit a bit loquacious for my liking). Here's my summary of how my travel has changed from "Then" (pre ubiquitous internet) to "Now". Contact
by mafribe 10y ago
Timely article (albeit a bit loquacious for my liking). Here's my
summary of how my travel has changed from "Then" (pre ubiquitous
internet) to "Now".
Contact with home:
Then: Highly sporadic. Occasional postcard, which may not arrive.
Now: Continuous contact, every photo is uploaded on social media.
Planning ahead:
Then: Big time.
Now: Little.
Luggage:
Then: Heavy, need to bring everything, be prepared for all eventualities.
Now: Light, many things no longer needed, buy missing stuff locally (probably more a consequence of my being wealthier as an adult).
Accommodation:
Then: Hotels are booked in advanced.
Now: Ad-hoc on the spot after arrival through AirBnB and Booking.com.
Travel guides:
Then: Important, read in advance, carried at all times.
Now: Gone, everything on smart phone.
Maps:
Then: Important, carried at all times.
Now: Gone, replaced by Google Maps.
Dictionary:
Then: Important, carried at all times.
Now: Gone, replaced by Google Translate.
Taxis:
Then: Flagged down, difficult to communicate intent due to language gaps, scary (who is the driver?) worried about getting ripped off and/or robbed.
Now: Uber.
Money:
Then: Carry cash, Traveller Checks, change at local banks and ATMs, worry big time about getting robbed.
Now: Credit cards.
Flights:
Then: Very expensive. Booked long ahead in travel agency, price comparison difficult, no low cost carriers.
Now: Cheap. Book ad-hoc, online, price comparison easy, low cost carriers.
Meeting people:
Then: Difficult, try and talk to locals when you chance to meet them in person.
Now: Easy, Tinder, Meetup.com.
Photos, documenting the journey:
Then: Lugging around heavy camera, always worrying about it being stolen, getting new film, each photo was expensive.
Now: Take trillions of photos on phone.
Electricity:
Then: Who cares?
Now: Oh no, where can I charge my phone, I'm on 3% charge?
Biggest problem:
Then: Will I get robbed?
Now: Where can I charge my phone?
- yourapostasy 10y agoGood list. I want to note that much of this list applies only if the Western-centric Net services you listed are available. For example, much of the Google-dependent tech isn't available in China to the average non-tech tourist. I solve my phone charging concerns with a portable solar panel and battery pack. With very young children in the picture, luggage becomes heavy again, but this lightens again as they get into their teens.
- mafribe 10y agoTrue, but China has equivalents of all of them ... if you read Chinese.