Life is full of choices. Every day we choose when to get out of bed, what we are going to have for lunch, and how to reply to an email. Rarely do go off the beaten path into new territory; most days we stick to the routine. But if we step back from the daily grind to reevaluate, odds are we’ll discover that there are better options out there. It’s the little things – like if you stop eating oatmeal every morning, you might discover that you love bagels with cream cheese.
Now, apply this to your travel life. When you’re traveling you also have an infinite number of choices – from where you’ll go for your next vacation to what restaurant you’ll try for dinner to which way you’ll stroll down the beach tonight. When you’re making these choices, stop and think for a minute. Consider all of your options and be conscious of the choices in front of you. If you decide to eat at the local restaurant around the corner instead of the chain down the street, you might discover a new favorite food. And you’ll make the greener choice by eating locally.
Even if you don’t make the more environmentally-conscious choice every time, at least you’ll have thought about it. And consciousness is the key to change.
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Great post! It’s so true. It’s so easy now to travel and pretty much do everything exactly as we’re used to at home. It’s good to remember that travel is about exploring new things.
Well that was an amazing thought. Well said that ‘consciousness is the key to change’.
People spend a lot of time thinking about how to travel to their destination (by plane, by car, etc). But, it’s just as important to consider how you travel while you’re on your trip. If you spend a little time planning your trip in advance, you can really cut down on your carbon footprint. We just posted on the subject at http://blog.nileguide.com/2008/12/18/plan-your-trip-save-some-green/. Try using some proximity planning tools like the one we offer on NileGuide (www.nileguide.com) to group nearby points of interest together in your trip itinerary. Find a restaurant within walking distance of your hotel, or an art gallery close to the museum you’re visiting. Save carbon, and save on gas, or taxi/bus/train fares while you’re at it!