I recently took a trip to Melbourne, Australia.

I had no high expectations, if anything I had quite low ones. Actually, why was I even going, I HATE Melbourne!

Arriving back home one week later, I declared to one and all that I LOVE Melbourne. In fact I plan on moving there next year.

What could have changed my feelings for this city so profoundly and completely? Had there been a sweeping transformation of the city, a revolution of the people, a magical spell cast out upon it?

No. I had changed and my perspective with me.

Reality is our perspective and this is most evident when we are travelling.

I have listed below 3 things that can affect our perspective of our travel destination and some tips on overcoming them.

Over-saturation of Destination Information

A little bit of research before heading off into uncharted territories can often be very helpful, but too much research often turns out to be a more of a hinderance. With the global world virtually at our door step now, we are bombarded with information from the media, the internet, guide books, other travellers about practically any place on Earth. So we often head off we pre-conceived ideas and this sets the tone for our whole trip. And sometimes, we are even discouraged from even going there in the first place.

A tip for getting around this problem is go on a mystery flight/holiday. How wonderful to pack your bags and head to the airport not knowing what or who is going to greet you around the corner.

Travelling Partners

It will always be hard to enjoy your trip, or the get the full experience that you are after if your travel companion(s) are always complaining, is incompatiable with your iteniary, inflexible or basically just a negative presence raining on your parade.

An obvious tip for this problem is to travel solo. If this isn't for you and you like to have travel with a companion to share the experience (and costs) with set some clear ground rules before you even BOOK your trip. And if it is to be an extended round the world type trip, maybe go for a short getaway first to iron out any problems and check your travel compatbility.

Fear

Fear can be paralysing in any circumstance, but when in a foreign land surrounded by strange languages and customs it can stop you dead in your tracks. This will definitely affect your experience, as you most likely stay secluded in your hotel/hostel and close by places where you feel safe.

The only tip I can offer on this one feel the fear and do it anyway.

Know something else that can affect our perspective whilst travelling and a tip to overcoming it. Feel free to add it to the list above.

Keep on trekking...

Kel