Independent travel is a departure from routine – an opportunity to learn, have fun and embrace life in novel environments and cultures. We better understand ourselves and others when we leave home to experience the world firsthand.
Tourists leave home to escape the world — Travelers leave home to discover it.
Over at one of my favorite independent travel websites — and some great friends and colleagues of mine — Sean Keener and the BootsNAll team have come up with The Indie Travel Manifesto.
Damn good idea; I only wish I’d come up with it first.
The Indie Travel Manifesto is pretty much what this website is all about: becoming an explorer of the world and life at the same time. Connect in a real way with people and places, rather than just passing through. Avoiding seeing the world with the eyes of a tourist, and rather seek to discover what you can learn from it.
Sean Keener says:
Sean Keener of BootsNAll
We are super excited to share the Indie Travel Manifesto (ITM). We have talked to many travelers over the past decade and these values and statements listed in the ITM are what Indie Travelers have told us they want out of their life and trip(s).
Folks that relate to the values of the ITM, will probably love BootsnAll since this is a guiding document for us going forward. Everything we do and build, will be aligned with the values in the ITM. Please come on over and Read, Vote, Discuss, Sign and Share it.”
Below is a little more info about the Manifesto. I’ve signed, perhaps you are like-minded?
WE BETTER UNDERSTAND OURSELVES AND OTHERS WHEN WE LEAVE HOME TO EXPERIENCE THE WORLD FIRSTHAND. INDEPENDENT TRAVEL IS A DEPARTURE FROM ROUTINE — AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, HAVE FUN AND EMBRACE LIFE IN NOVEL ENVIRONMENTS AND CULTURES.
-INDIE TRAVEL IS ABOUT REPLACING BROAD EXPECTATIONS WITH NUANCED REALITIES.
-INDIE TRAVEL IS ABOUT SEEING YOURSELF IN THE CONTEXT OF A RICH AND COMPLEX WORLD.
-INDIE TRAVEL IS ABOUT DEFINING YOUR VALUES, EXPLORING YOUR BELIEFS, AND CRAFTING YOUR OWN MEANING FOR LIFE.
INDIE TRAVELERS VALUE…
-OPTIONS OVER POSSESSIONS
-DYNAMIC POSSIBILITIES OVER STATIC GOALS
-DISCOVERY OVER ESCAPE
-INTERACTIONS OVER TRANSACTIONS
-LOCAL INFORMATION OVER RECEIVED INFORMATION
-FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE OVER EXPERT OPINIONS
-MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH AS MUCH AS PHYSICAL ADVENTURE
-PRIVATE TRANSFORMATION OVER SOCIAL STATUS AND BRAGGING RIGHTS
-THE PRESENT MOMENT OVER DREAMS OF PAST AND FUTURE
INDIE TRAVELERS DO…
-PACK LIGHT AND KEEP THINGS SIMPLE
-ADAPT AS THEY GO RATHER THAN MICROMANAGE IN ADVANCE
-PRACTICE CAUTION, BUT NOT PARANOIA
-KNOW HOW TO SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY AN EXPERIENCE
-SEEK PLEASURE IN SIMPLE MOMENTS AND DETAILS
-MAKE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS AND INFORMED DECISIONS
-LEARN THE ECONOMIC, POLITICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT OF THEIR HOST CULTURE
-EMPHASIZE LISTENING MORE THAN TALKING
-PRACTICE COURTESY, PATIENCE, HUMILITY, AND GOOD HUMOR
-SEEK TO UNDERSTAND — NOT JUDGE OR ROMANTICIZE — OTHER CULTURES
-GIVE BACK TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY
-SHARE WHAT THEY’VE LEARNED WITH OTHERS
Over at one of my favorite independent travel websites — and some great friends and colleagues of mine — Sean Keener and the BootsNAll team have come up with The Indie Travel Manifesto.
