Yes, maybe it’s age. These days when I travel, particularly when it’s traveling for business, I hardly go for the popular tourist attractions or sites anymore. I try my hardest to stay away from the crowds, chaos, traffic, lines, and the so-called “must-sees” and “must-dos”. The setbacks of not having a “I’ve been here too” photo are well compensated by my own itinerary that is catered for my preferences, and pace.
When you travel for business, you usually only get a few hours in the evening, or if you’re lucky, half of a weekend before business commences. A further half of that time is usually spent on socializing or dining with local friends and colleagues. With the valuable time that remains, I am not prepared to stand in lines for the tourist attractions, only to mingle with visitors but the locals.
Trying to get a feel of the local culture and pulse is a must. It can be felt on the streets, in the local eateries, subway trains, neighborhood markets, grocery stores, or even convenience stores around every corner. Take a step back, suck in the air, the sounds, and the sights on the streets, can be different enough. The key is maintaining an inquisitive mind at all times, and you will be nicely rewarded.
The reason I mentioned age is because younger folks generally have a lot more energy to fill up their itineraries by visiting a dozen landmarks a day. Either I am too lazy, or simply I don’t have as much energy as them these days, especially when I see crowds and lines of people everywhere. Instead, I gave myself much less aggressive targets by taking light strolls on the streets, sitting down for coffee or tea, taking my time at the park, and to find my bearings using guide books and the all so convenient iPhone apps.
The only complaint I have when traveling for business is the absence of dining companions other than work colleagues. There are times when you just don’t want to talk about business anymore, and you know how inevitable it is even if you are already seeing your colleagues 12 hours a day. My dining options are largely restricted if I haven’t had the luxury to make advance appointments with my local friends. This is when local food courts usually come to my rescue.
Last month in Shanghai I discovered a newly opened food court right next to my hotel. To my surprise, the establishment was invested by Taiwanese and hence the entire mall is inhabited by licensed Taiwanese eateries.
But then again, why would I go for Taiwanese food when I am in Shanghai?
Confessions of a Corporate Shopaholic 