We always like interacting with locals to understand the culture in depth and recognize that we are all different. The difference and diversity open your mind like no other experience. While our trips are not too long, we try to maximize our time with locals wherever possible. It gives us authentic understanding of their struggles, their accomplishments, their purpose of life. Our best interaction with locals during travel have given us lifetime of memories
We have had the opportunity to get short and sweet interactions in many countries. Some of the deepest interactions we have had are at unexpected places where we expect least help!
Sri Lanka: Homestay Riverside Inn Fuji in Bentota run by a nice couple. The husband had worked in Japan, very evident from the meticulous arrangement of cut fruits. The wife made healthy homely breakfast and helped in managing the home stay. We had deep conversations about Sri Lankan economy, Ramayana, how daughters are good and what not. We still remember their travelling neighbor’s cat they had sheltered “Sharani” meaning refugee. She used to climb the walls and come to first floor to stay with us
Germany: We stayed in an Airbnb sharing an apartment with our host who had rented out a room. She was a chiropractor and probably divorced since we never saw her husband. Her son used to come weekly to meet her from boarding school. She had a dog and a clinic that used to keep her busy. A group of women in 50s would visit her at times, the only time some guests came home. Although we were a bit scared of her since she was a German, expecting some sternness on Indian chaos we would create in the kitchen, she was genuinely nice and accommodating
Switzerland: One of our batchmates from the University that invited us hosted dinner at his house. He managed food for 10 of us alone, teaching that guys can cook and manage guests. We were introduced to tasty roshti and raclette, simple yet tasty authentic swiss dishes. We had nice lemon tree after dinner!
Peru: Collpas Tambopata inn is run by a family where a couple work as guides. Some of the other family members support cooking, activities like fishing. A small girl about 5 years old had come in for her holidays with her mom. She didn’t know English but was sportive enough to invite guests coming for lunch and dinner into her cardboard house, play with dolls and a few dead grasshoppers she had collected or probably killed. Language has no barriers
Uzbekistan: We had many unknown strangers talk about Hindi soap operas, invite us home for choi, lunch, take selfies and photos with my mom who had a bindi on her forehead. She was a star there. The genuine hospitality touched us
We had also booked many tours on Instagram including one to Jade lakes near Tashkent, first time for us. We didn’t pay any advance, got local rates using Google translate to converse. The power of internet is huge for small businesses. It was pure trust. There were no hassles, no hidden costs, no ask for tips. We felt a lot of respect in the interactions. I hope more people go with local tour operators
Egypt: I was very apprehensive before travelling here thinking about harassment, baksheesh and cheating. We had a midnight flight after which we took an Uber to our hotel in Luxor. The hotel was locked without anyone at the door. No one picked up our calls. After a lot of trying, the driver helped locate the manager and translated what the manager said. They wanted us to move to a so-called better hotel since occupancy was low on the one, we had originally booked. We thought it was a scam and resisted a lot. We finally ended up going to the second hotel which turned out to be better than the one we booked. The taxi driver had genuinely tried to help us, and we had wasted time imagining all sorts of scams and collusions between manager and taxi driver. Not everyone is a thug here and internet has probably tarnished the image more than required
Indonesia: It was Covid time and we went to a local healthcare centre at Labuan Bajo to get our swab tests done before a flight. Many school kids had come for different reasons, mostly accompanying one from their community. They wanted to practice English with us, understand why we came to their remote place and had so much fun just talking to us. They thanked us for spending time with them. Finally turns out the tests were no longer a requirement, an expensive outlay for us. Thank God Covid requirements are gone
Find an opportunity to talk to people, in their language if possible. You will be welcome with smile and wide hearts that will make travel even more fulfiling!