Lots of travelers just think in terms of things they want to see during their trip.
I'd encourage you to expand that to include the other four senses.
It can help you experience a place more fully if you also think about what you want to hear, feel, smell and taste.
For instance, while in Costa Rica, I saw the beauty of an unspoiled night sky with more stars than I'll ever see here at home. I marveled at the way the "golden hour" of sunset bathed everything in a true golden light unlike anything I've seen here. I sat in awe of the majesty of the mountains, making cows and humans mere fly specks on their sides.
I listened to the songs of unfamiliar tropical birds, the soothing hum of crickets, the white noise of a waterfall and the rustle of the wind in the rainforest canopy at night.
I tasted flavors and textures I wasn't accustomed to at home. Fruits I didn't recognize and dishes I want to try to reproduce.
I felt the smooth and ribbed leaves of tropical plants, the warmth of hot springs, the film of dust and salt that covered me during travel to the beach. The silky blue bath that was the Gulf of Nicoya.
On different bus rides, I got whiffs of lemon, cocoa, soap and other less-pleasant things that I didn't try to hard to identify because I didn't want to mar my already-upset stomach.
What are some of your most memorable sensory experiences while traveling? Post a comment and share.
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