Sometimes it is easy to forget that one of the best experiences when travel is not to go to tourist sites, but just to partake and observe in the day-to-day activities with the people who live there.
But, it’s critical to do it with purpose.
When you fly to Asia for 2.5 days and have 2 presentations, you don’t necessarily have a lot of time for “sightseeing,” but you do have a lot of time for heightened awareness of the little things.
For example, how
- the seats in taxicabs are covered with white linen
- the driver can automatically open and close the doors
- you get pushed, shoved, jostled, and crammed into subway cars
- everyone lines up for subways and buses
- you can get cans of coffee from vending machines…that are HOT
- the cleaning staff of the bullet train all come out, line up in front of the train and then bow to the boarding customers
- the conductor on the train bows when he enters and leaves your car
- annoying it is that your credit card doesn’t work everywhere (ok, that’s not a good thing)
- darn fast the bullet train is (stay tuned for video)
- smart it is to show a map of the subway system with arrival times for EACH station in every car
- did I mention the HOT cans of coffee?
I believe (hope) that by raising my awareness while I’m here, I can raise my own awareness of these things while at home…which I hope will lead to an overall sense of greater mindfulness.
At the very least, it will make me yearn for hot cans of coffee dispensed from vending machines.
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