Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
Have you always wanted to leave your home and travel the world? The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to stay inside and everyone is restricted from going to other states and countries. Many people have been aching to pack their bags and travel to a new place, but did you know that it is actually also possible to ‘travel’ while staying at home? Here are five ways you can travel without physically going anywhere!
Learn New Languages
What’s better than being able to communicate with people from other cultures? Take advantage of your spare time by studying a new language as it helps you to have better and deeper conversations with people around the world. There are plenty of free apps and websites for you to learn new languages of your choice, such as Babbel, Duolingo, Mondly, Mango and many more. You can learn a new language from anywhere, even at home, rather than taking classes physically at a school or centre.
Join Facebook Travel Groups
We should make use of online social platforms such as Facebook. Travelling is not advised now, but it does not mean that you cannot travel in the future; you can still plan for your future trips. You can also share your passion for travelling with people who share the same interest; in turn, people can share their own travel knowledge and experiences with you. One of the simplest ways to make new friends is through Facebook. There are many travel-based Facebook groups where members can plan, ask and talk about travelling.
Photo by S Migaj
Here is a list of Facebook travel groups:
Not just that, there are also groups dedicated to solo or female travellers only.
Start planning your dream trip now!
Watch Travel-Themed Movies
We can explore the world by simply watching movies. Now that we are all stuck at home, why not make use of the time you have and watch some travel-themed movies? If you are not sure where to go after the pandemic ends, you can watch these movies to get inspiration, and put the destinations on your bucket list! Here is a list of the top four travel-themed movies:
1. The Bucket List (2007)
This heart-warming movie was shot in a few magnificent locations around the world, such as China, France, Egypt, India, Tanzania and many more. This movie reminds us to travel to the places we want to before it is too late.
2. Eat Pray Love (2010)
This is a movie based on the book Eat, Pray, Love. It is about a modern woman's heart-warming journey where she embarks on a joyful voyage of self-discovery that takes her to beautiful sites all over the world, each of which aids her in healing from her divorce.
3. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
This is an adventure comedy movie. Walter Mitty and his co-worker are on the verge of losing their jobs. Together, they take on a wild adventure and have the best, unimaginable trip that they could ever ask for.
4. Up (2009)
This is an animated adventure movie with elements of comedy and drama, which is perfect for families. Carl Fredricksen takes his house along with Russell, a young boy and Dug the dog to Paradise Falls using balloons!
Photo by Thought Catalog
Try Food from around the World Experiencing food from different countries is one of the main highlights of any trip. Food has the power to bring communities closer together, and it also helps us to connect and gain a greater understanding of other cultures. Who says you cannot taste food from other countries without travelling?
It’s simple, you can either learn to cook a foreign dish or order it online.
Cooking different types of food from different countries can be a lot of fun, and at the same time, you get to learn about other cultures too. Getting family members involved, such as younger kids is also a great idea as you can have a bonding session with them while cooking. Another option is to order food online! Using apps or websites such as foodpanda, GrabFood and Lalamove, you can taste new and exciting dishes from different restaurants no matter where you are.
Photo by Lily Banse
Explore the World Virtually
Find out more about world geography first before leaving your home. You can make use of your electronic devices to find out about various interesting sites, as Google Earth lets you experience the world from a 360° street view and explore buildings virtually. It gives you the opportunity to stay at home but travel at the same time.
Google Art & Culture provides free access to more than 2000 cultural institutions from 80 countries. Besides the 360° street view, they also have videos, audio and many other exciting features for us to discover! What’s the best part of travelling from home? Staying in bed while wearing your comfy clothes, no long queues and you can enjoy food whenever you want, even when visiting places like museums, zoos, galleries and more!
Photo by Louis Reed
Travelling across borders is not a feasible option for now as we are still living under the pandemic. We should make use of what we have and appreciate everything around us, including social platforms and our own homes. We should be mindful of each other’s health, so do your part by staying home as there are many other ways to explore the world.
By Emily Cheah