Slow Travel: Past the Postcard

When I entered my 40s in 2024, I started enjoying slow travel more than ever.

I had a demanding job that was incredibly stressful and often required long hours. Luckily, the job itself was remote and had predictable busy and slow seasons. During the slower months, I could work from pretty much anywhere. So in a way, that job also contributed to how my travel style changed.

I love trying new experiences, not just visiting famous tourist spots or trying local food. You’ll find me dressing up in traditional clothing, which I love so much; trying North Korean food (the only time I was willing to wait more than two hours just to eat on a freezing winter day); participating in a samurai workshop; staying at a unique hotel that looks straight out of the Ming Dynasty; or chilling at an eco-lodge that’s also an elephant sanctuary.

Proudly wearing traditional Savunese dress, a connection to my grandfather’s roots.

I love experiencing a place beyond its tourist attractions and getting a glimpse of the local culture and lifestyle. As an introvert, traveling this way also really helps me recharge and de-stress.

I travel solo most of the time, but I refuse to let that leave me with a camera roll full of selfies and empty landscapes. Whenever I visit a new city or country, I look for a studio where I can rent a traditional outfit and hire a professional photographer. If I spend a lot of money traveling to all these places, you best believe I’m coming home with photos that do the trip justice.

If other people collect fridge magnets or keychains from the places they visit, I collect experiences and photos of myself wearing traditional outfits.

This is my travel collection.

I put quite a bit of thought into choosing a traditional clothing rental studio. I want to make sure that what I’m wearing is as authentic as possible because traditional clothing represents the identity, history, and pride of a culture. I’m also curious about the meaning behind each piece and how the outfit is traditionally worn. It’s part of showing respect for the culture while making the experience more meaningful.

I’ll talk more about this in my next post. Stay tuned!

What do you like to collect from your travels?