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I genuinely never understood the people that travel to live like locals, avoiding tourist spots, popular attractions, etc. Popular things are popular for a rea

I genuinely never understood the people that travel to live like locals, avoiding tourist spots, popular attractions, etc. Popular things are popular for a reason, I just can't fathom missing out on them on purpose, with the sole reason being that they are popular. If I pay thousands for flights and hotels, it's definitely to see what's unique about the place, and after having lived in 4 very different countries (and my girlfriend in 10+), I can tell you that the locals' way of life is definitely not unique anywhere in the world.

Consultant32452 4y ago
I do the tourist attractions but try to find local mom and pop restaurants over the recommended tourist places.
yunwal 4y ago
Locals way of life is no different in South India vs. the US? I get your point I guess, but there are huge differences in way of life that are genuinely interesting to me at least.
- iLoveOncall 4y ago
  No, it really isn't that different. I think you can see differences in standard of living, not way of life or day to day life. Wake up, go to work, go for a drink with colleagues or friends and go back home (and everything in between) is the day to day routine of the vast majority of people, no matter which country they are in and which standard of living they have. It's not because some do it in a megalopolis with skyscrapers and some in a wooden shack in the middle of the mountains that the way of life is different.
  - laundermaf 4y ago
    Your view on "the way of life" is so superficial. Yes, we all breathe, eat and die. Day to day things are different. Interactions are different. Food is different. The time you spend between work and sleep is different. Saying that "the way of life" is the same between South of India and the US is completely laughable.
  - em-bee 4y ago
    the differences are in the details. the culture. how people interact with each other. what they do in their free time. the difference in the standard of living itself reveals a lot in what people feel is important to them. there is a lot we can learn, both from the similarities and from the differences.
  - huimang 4y ago
    Of course it will seem the same if you gloss over all the details that make life different! Those activities are shaped by the culture of those countries and are not the same. “Going to a bar” in the US and Korea are completely different experiences because the culture is different. Same deal as “going to a cafe”. And of course it’s a different experience doing those in a megalopolis versus a tiny village.
em-bee 4y ago
when i was a student i thought that every place i went to was different until i visited japan and realized that before that i had only visited western countries. (europe, US, NZ) and compared to asia they suddenly felt pretty much all the same. there are still differences however, and i don't agree that the local's way of life is the same everywhere.
laundermaf 4y ago
> Popular things are popular for a reason Meh, it really depends. Some places look amazing on cameras and especially on drones, but aren't that interesting if you're not a bird. Specifically, "un-popular tourists" generally don't like to hang out with hundreds of other tourists, pay exorbitant fees and being hassled by street sellers anywhere they go. > the locals' way of life is definitely not unique anywhere in the world This reads like satire. You can't tell me that life in Vietnam is anywhere near life in the US. I don't need to visit any tourist places in Vietnam to enjoy living there.

Consultant32452 4y ago

I do the tourist attractions but try to find local mom and pop restaurants over the recommended tourist places.

yunwal 4y ago

Locals way of life is no different in South India vs. the US? I get your point I guess, but there are huge differences in way of life that are genuinely interesting to me at least.

iLoveOncall 4y ago
No, it really isn't that different. I think you can see differences in standard of living, not way of life or day to day life. Wake up, go to work, go for a drink with colleagues or friends and go back home (and everything in between) is the day to day routine of the vast majority of people, no matter which country they are in and which standard of living they have. It's not because some do it in a megalopolis with skyscrapers and some in a wooden shack in the middle of the mountains that the way of life is different.
- laundermaf 4y ago
  Your view on "the way of life" is so superficial. Yes, we all breathe, eat and die. Day to day things are different. Interactions are different. Food is different. The time you spend between work and sleep is different. Saying that "the way of life" is the same between South of India and the US is completely laughable.
- em-bee 4y ago
  the differences are in the details. the culture. how people interact with each other. what they do in their free time. the difference in the standard of living itself reveals a lot in what people feel is important to them. there is a lot we can learn, both from the similarities and from the differences.
- huimang 4y ago
  Of course it will seem the same if you gloss over all the details that make life different! Those activities are shaped by the culture of those countries and are not the same. “Going to a bar” in the US and Korea are completely different experiences because the culture is different. Same deal as “going to a cafe”. And of course it’s a different experience doing those in a megalopolis versus a tiny village.

em-bee 4y ago

when i was a student i thought that every place i went to was different until i visited japan and realized that before that i had only visited western countries. (europe, US, NZ) and compared to asia they suddenly felt pretty much all the same. there are still differences however, and i don't agree that the local's way of life is the same everywhere.

laundermaf 4y ago

> Popular things are popular for a reason Meh, it really depends. Some places look amazing on cameras and especially on drones, but aren't that interesting if you're not a bird. Specifically, "un-popular tourists" generally don't like to hang out with hundreds of other tourists, pay exorbitant fees and being hassled by street sellers anywhere they go. > the locals' way of life is definitely not unique anywhere in the world This reads like satire. You can't tell me that life in Vietnam is anywhere near life in the US. I don't need to visit any tourist places in Vietnam to enjoy living there.