travel like a local

welcome to introspection ft. harsehaj! ⭐️ i’m harsehaj, a 19 y/o always up to something in social good x tech.

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btw, feel free to reply with topic ideas you want me to write about for future posts.

onto today’s topic: travel like a local 🏠

i’ve had some wild experiences that i wouldn’t trade for the world in the countries i’ve travelled to over the past few months.

however, some of those touristy experiences don’t paint a detailed picture of what the vibe and culture of a country or region is. for me, living through a country like a local is what develops a genuine appreciation and love for a new place.

japan in particular has been loaded with opportunities and experiences of immersing myself in so many different sides to the country. i’ll write a bit about 4 specific experiences:

1) kitakagawa neighbourhood in osaka 🎨

the hostel i booked in osaka ended up being right in the center of a very cute and artsy neighbourhood (kitakagawa) with little to no tourists despite being in one of the most popular cities to visit. with murals covering so many buildings, little cafés selling treats and families out and about, i fell in love with osaka just because of that neighbourhood.

2) tea farming internship in fujieda 🍵

you guys already know that i worked on a tea farm for 3 weeks, and that was the closest feeling i’ve ever gotten to living the true local experience. i mean of course it would be if i was falling into a routine and the family mart employees literally remembered my face.

3) fruit sculpture café in kyoto 🍒

one café that philip and i visited in kyoto also sticks out. located in a completely residential neighbourhood, an elderly man renovated the first floor of his home into a bar and restaurant — one that specializes in animal sculptures made from fruit. i honestly thought i walked into someone’s home by mistake at first because the owner was chatting with his 2 friends at the counter. we were soon showered with hospitality and left with our stomachs full of fresh fruit and true taste of the vibes beyond tourist attractions.

the love i develop for a country through actually experiencing what life is like is exactly why it’s hard for me to rank tanzania high on my list of favourite places i’ve travelled. yes, i had a few of the craziest experiences of my life there (climbing kili, safari in the serengeti etc.) but our itinerary was mostly filled with attractions and geographically-unique adventures. i unfortunately didn’t gain a love for the country, but more-so the specific experiences instead.

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