Pirates Plank

It’s a pleasure to travel the world, and even for those for whom it has become a chore, there are many moments in any journey that remind you why you’ve set out to begin with.  Different cultures, different geographies, and different perspectives help to sharpen the senses and wake up all of the sleeping parts of the heart and mind.  With this, variations in cooking, languages, and daily customs all help to add new sensations to the repertoire of what it means to be a human being in the world.  The shifting sensibilities is a heady place to be, philosophically speaking, and it can be complicated and baffling, while also providing a welcome excitement, to every new journey.

There are many ways of making the transitions from here to there much easier, like getting the inside story on the local cultural scenes, as well as tips on the best restaurants, and hotel recommendations.  There are also ways to find out what’s worth seeing in terms of local visual and performing arts, in order to get a deeper vision of the culture you’re visiting.  Finding local art can involve a lot of research and preparation from a distance, but in the end, really, it’s a lot about following your nose.  When you can spend a little time in the place you’re visiting, it’s easier to find clues about where the really innovative work is being done.

An excellent place to begin is the local coffee shop.  Find the cafes where the locals go, and plan to spend some time here.  This in itself can be a fantastic way to get to know a city, since it gives you an insider’s view about what’s going on.  Or, at least it’s a good way to watch people, and have a good reason to be nosey.  While you’re there, have a look at the art on the walls, and start asking questions about it.  Usually, the places where the locals go are also the places where the local artists hang out, and it’s often some of the most interesting underground work that’s on display.  Look for the artist in other parts of town, and one thing will lead to another, and you might find yourself participating in a new movement, or at least meeting enormously interesting people.

Related posts:

1. Singapore Knowledge Cafes
2. Soul Music Expresses Brotherly Love of Philadelphia
3. The best Cafe in San Francisco