Let’s confess it; this happens to most of us who’re aboard long-haul journeys. We are first-hand witnesses to the deflation of some of our much awaited holiday trips- seeing the experience falling short of the ‘expected’ brilliance.
Even those trips to our ideal cities leave much to be desired. Here’s one reason why: with a hyperactive anticipation one usually has for their holidays, travellers often come across and miss a whole lot of the opportunities that a journey usually offers- like a stopover.
Sitting for hours in the same hall till your retinas begin mistaking the ceiling lights for UFOs…well you get the idea. Unlike many who are baited into believing that all fun lies concentrated in the city they are travelling to, we think otherwise; every stop en-route a journey counts. On top of that, a stopover adventure gives you a boost of that well-needed confidence which every traveller wishes for prior to kick-starting an exuberant travel-holiday.
A sight-seeing interlude
Starting right off the bat, your stopover city packs an incredible variety of places to visit within its parameters; and you wouldn’t do good to judge a city by its airport lounge. The local culture is reason enough to roam around and beat that boredom with a sophisticated diversion. You merely need to be pushed out of your comfort zone- after that, it’s fun and merriment all the way.
Every site you see and every native you meet feels more like a device functioning to make your journey an unforgettable enterprise. An easy way out is to check with the airport authorities, your airline lounge staff or others whether there are formal tours for stopover passengers being operated from the airport? There are a few global airlines which do facilitate such services at their global hubs to promote domestic heritage and culture.
How ‘bout a shopping break?
It’s more like preaching to the choir here since most of you already suffer from the ‘shop till you drop’ syndrome (excuse the jest). From the satellite branches of your favourite brands to local merchandise, everything is worth a look in the neighbourhood. Of course, you begin by window shopping till you realize something unique and want to buy it. Do salvage some of the most distinctive treasures available and return home with a variety of souvenirs.
Or you can head for a Restaurant
Like me, if you are also possessed by an experimental spirit then there’s no doubting your readiness to seek out new cuisines and exotic recipes- even if they sometimes don’t agree with your taste buds. But most of the times, it turns out for the good. By presenting to the foreigners some of the most amazing cookeries in its résumé, a city earns considerable reputation this way. Perhaps you’ll come across some new vegetarian dish or might end up admiring a new flavour of cocktail hitherto unknown to your tongue.
Perhaps it is time to unwind
Connecting flights can either be ‘more’ fatiguing or ‘less’- depending on your coping methodology. If sitting in a plane for hours leaves your muscles stiff and sore then a stopover is all you need to rejuvenate yourself. And while replacing the seat in a plane with that of a lounge will only add to that travel induced stress of yours, visiting a nearby spa can inject you with a surge of fresh energy. A good 20 minutes of massage or sauna will surely instil feelings of ‘exponential euphoria’.
Or you can just take a walk
Most often than not, the facial expressions of anxious travellers usually give away that the person is trying too hard to have a good time, but without much success at that. Now that’s quite natural, considering the brain’s been wired to the apprehensions of travelling.
A walk across the vicinity is something you can count on. The amusement is derived not only from the scenic scenarios that you walk through but also from the competency with which you deliver yourself from the agony of monotony. So why not visit a park. And did I mention it’s free?
Work out
Hit the gym and boost your testosterone levels- that stress of yours will be past tense! Whether you’re crafted like Arnold Schwarzenegger or put up like an ordinary mortal, work out is a must. For this you wouldn’t have to look forward to visiting the city as most airports nowadays have built-in amenities like gyms, pools and yoga clubs. Step on the treadmill over there and give your journey a rush of high-octane fervour.
Retreat to the shores
When it comes to the time-span of your stay, the more the merrier! This means that you’ll actually have time enough to do more than one of these stopover activities. When the sojourn is like twenty four to thirty six hours long- as is the case of rare and remote destinations- the idea to visit a nearby beach instantly recommends itself. Jog along the shoreline while humming “The Sea! The sea! The open sea! The blue, the fresh, the ever free!” or whatever you like.
Miscellaneous
The fact that you’ve read it this far reflects the degree of eagerness you have in planning things ahead of time. So if you’re preparing for a stopover in advance then it would definitely be helpful to get updates on some of the events scheduled during the duration of your stay.
Maybe you’d feel better downtown or in an arcade if not at the beach- there’s no accounting for taste. As far as theatres and museums are concerned, we haven’t even begun to bring them in discussion. Suffice to say that fishing for the right activity is not as tedious as it seems to the lot of tourists. At least you’re not without options. My final thoughts on this…? Just go ahead and live your life. Cheers!
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