World Trip | Slow Travel - My way of moving
On my world trip, I live my own travel lifestyle — very slow and very relaxed.
The view from Small Adam’s Peak, Ella, Sri Lanka
Slow Travel/Slow Tourism in Sri Lanka
Map of Sri Lanka
Since January 1, 2023, I have been travelling in Sri Lanka, officially making my journey a world trip. When I applied online for the Sri Lankan visa in December, I could choose between a visa for a short stay of 30 days or a long stay of up to 180 days. Without hesitation, I chose the 180 days. Back then and until now, I don’t know if I will actually stay in this country for so long. But I could. And that gives me a lot of calmness right now.
Why?
Because I don’t have to see all the sights in a country as large as Bavaria within 30 days.
Because I can follow my gut feeling and decide to stay longer in a place simply because I like it there and feel comfortable.
Because I can live without time pressure and deadlines, listen to my needs and wishes, and follow them.
Slow Travel and Slow Tourism – an alternative way of moving?
Being a researcher at heart, I conducted a small database search and found out that there is a term for my style of traveling, and that research is even being conducted on it. From a scientific perspective, Slow Travel, or Slow Tourism is seen as an alternative to mass or package tourism.
Let me put this into context.
A cruise ship at Unawatuna coast, Sri Lanka
Mass or package tourism (I actually find the term “mass tourism” inappropriate because it has a negative connotation for me) is usually characterized by pre-planning by a travel agency. Following a fixed, mostly standardized schedule, many different sights are made accessible to a large number of people in a short time (Hassan, 2009; Molz, 2010). Cruises are a good example.
This way of travelling has some advantages: for travellers, the organizational effort before and during the trip is limited, they know exactly what to expect on the trip, and travelling is perceived as safe. Especially when travellers have a relatively short amount of time, this type of travel can be very comfortable and at the same time offer many different exciting experiences.
Happy backpacker with her life on her shoulders
Slow Travel / Slow Tourism stands in contrast to this. The literature generally sees it as individual travel, consciously planned independently by travellers away from package tourism. There is often temporal and spatial flexibility. Another characteristic can also be slower movement by bus, train, or boat (Gardner, 2009). Travellers tend to stay in privately run, smaller accommodations such as apartments or home stays and may remain in one place for a longer period of time (keyword: staycation). The focus here is often set og learning about and experiencing the local culture and way of life (Oliveira, 2020). Backpacking is usually the preferred way to go here.
Both types of travel obviously have their advantages and disadvantages. I do not want to say that one is better or worse than the other. For many travellers, however, longer-term, individually organized travel is an opportunity to integrate more slowness and balance into their own lives and to distance themselves from the principle of “higher, faster, further” that is prevalent in our Western world (Fullagar et al., 2012; Hassan, 2009).
FOMO in travelling
FOMO stands for Fear of Missing Out — the fear of missing something that others are experiencing.
I noticed that I get FOMO when I visit many places in a very short time and try to see as many sights as possible. The more I see in the shortest time, the more I feel or fear that I am missing or overlooking something (Molz, 2010). This makes the trip feel more like a race, where I’m just ticking off boxes on a bucket list without truly enjoying each sight and being in the moment.
This eventually leads to travel fatigue. The most beautiful beach becomes just another beach, the most impressive temple just another temple. I want to avoid this for as long as possible by deliberately choosing fewer destinations and sights so I can spend more time there.
Therefore, I would currently classify my travel style as Slow Travel / Slow Tourism.
„Slow travel is a state of mind. It is about having the courage not to go the way of the crowd.“
My way of Slow Travel/Slow Tourism
For my world trip, I have neither a fixed schedule nor a set itinerary. I have the rough idea to be on the road until August 2024 and to at least visit India, Nepal, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand. When and how long I will be in each place and which other countries I will visit, I currently do not know.
Of course, I could try to visit as many countries as possible in as little time as possible. But as you can read in my bio, I have never really liked that on my previous trips. I always felt like I only got a too small glimpse into the country and culture, but never really got to grasp the bigger picture.
Nine Arches Bridge, Ella, Sri Lanka
Long-term visas and loosely planned itineraries allow me to explore my destinations as I please. I usually book accommodation at a new place only for the first three to four days. If I like it there, I extend my stay. If not, the period is short enough to bear and to prepare for onward travel. This gives me the freedom to travel where I feel good, without having to follow a predetermined plan (Oliveira, 2020).
Not planning everything in advance also allows me to experience unplanned moments and encounters. They happen when you go to a restaurant all by yourself, start chatting to the people at the next table while waiting, and then end up going to a party on the beach together. When you share a taxi with strangers just to split the costs, start talking and get along so well that you spend the next two days together. When you ask locals what’s going on today and end up watching a kilometer-long parade with indiginous dance groups for two hours. These things cannot be planned ahead.
But I want to emphasize that I still visit and enjoy the classic tourist attractions — just at my own pace.
Slow Travel and Scuba Diving – The chance for the now
It was only in December 2022 that I discovered and fell in love with scuba diving. So much so that I completed the basic training in Lanzarote and then attended the advanced course here in Sri Lanka. And I can assure you, there’s much more to come.
But why do I love diving so much? Because it brings me into the moment — the here and now. As soon as I go underwater, this is what matters: my breathing, my air supply, the diving depth. And of course, the wonderful surroundings and the beautiful marine life — which seems to remain completely unaffected by what’s happening around them. What a great role model!
While diving, everything that occupies my mind during the day becomes secondary. I have to postpone it all until later. For me, it feels like the perfect meditation, a vacation from my thoughts. Being in the here and now, enjoying the moment.
My trip – my comfort zone
Travelling pushes me to leave my comfort zone on a daily basis. Every day, I interact with more strangers than with people I know. Often I am in unfamiliar places, and have to constantly rely on things turning out as they should.
However, by staying in one place for a longer time, I repeatedly create a small comfort zone for myself. I can quickly settle in and feel comfortable in new places. This gives me strength and security. With that, I can then consciously break out of my comfort zone again and again to have new exciting experiences.
What it needs…
Literature states that travellers who follow Slow Travel / Slow Tourism are considered particularly independent, tough, resilient, and always eager for new experiences (Dickinson & Lumsdon, 2010). And yes, I would generally agree with that for myself.
However, I believe that you don’t already have to be like that before you start travelling. You learn and grow every day you are on the road — because you travel consciously in the way you like.
References
Dickinson, J. E. & Lumsdon, L. (2010). Slow Travel and Tourism. London/Washington, DC.: Earthscan.
Fullagar S., Markwell K. & Wilson E. (2012). Slow Tourism: Experiences and Mobilities. Bristol: Channel View, 15/20.
Gardner, N. (2009). A manifesto for slow travel. Hidden Europe 25. https://www.hiddeneurope.eu/a-manifesto-for-slow-travel [2023-02-26]
Hassan, R. (2009). Empires of Speed: Time and Acceleration of Politics and Society. Brill, https://doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004175907.i-254
Molz, J. G. (2010). Representing pace in tourism mobilities: Staycations, slow travel and the amazing race. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change 7 (4), 270/286, https://doi.org/10.1080/14766820903464242
Oliveira, C. S. (2020). My trip in my words: Subjectivities, time(s) and mobilities in slow travel blogs. Time & Society 29 (1), 223/255. 10.1177/0961463X18820740
