{"id":50334,"date":"2017-05-14T03:32:31","date_gmt":"2017-05-14T10:32:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=50334"},"modified":"2017-05-14T03:32:31","modified_gmt":"2017-05-14T10:32:31","slug":"10-lessons-ive-learned-after-traveling-for-10-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/05\/14\/10-lessons-ive-learned-after-traveling-for-10-years\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Lessons I’ve Learned After Traveling For 10 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

There is no right or wrong way to travel\u00e2\u20ac\u201d but I will just share with you how I<\/em> travel:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

First of all, I never fly first class or business. Only economy.<\/p>\n

Why? Because I wanna save money. Not only that, but I know if I got used to a first-class\/business-class lifestyle \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I would end up blowing way more money, feeling entitled, and feeling upset when I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t<\/em> fly first-class\/business-class.<\/p>\n

I also wanna share with you some hacks on traveling:<\/p>\n

1. Always stand in the business line<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I have an asshole move which is pretty good: I always stand in business class lines (the quicker, expedited lines) even though I always fly economy. I walk with confidence, chin high, and chest high. I pretend like I belong there. Very rarely do people tell me to go to the economy line. Sometimes they do (only 20% of the time they kindly ask me to stand in the economy line). But most of the people let me slide, and just check me in.<\/p>\n

Also, when I am about to board onto a flight, I always play dumb tourist and go into the business class line. Except, I do it with confidence. Like today, on my international flight from Hanoi to America that is what I did. And I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have to stand in line like a sucker for an hour or so. And nobody said otherwise.<\/p>\n

But Eric \u00e2\u20ac\u201d isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t that a dick move?<\/p>\n

Yes. But I am a selfish person, and it has made my life more pleasant.<\/p>\n

Homework assignment: Stand in the first-class line<\/h3>\n

Just try it out. I think a lot of people are afraid of just rejection \u00e2\u20ac\u201d or they don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know it is an option. Treat it like a social experiment.<\/p>\n

Try this out at the airport, or anywhere else where there is a \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcpriority\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 line. Push your comfort zone, do something a bit weird and crazy.<\/p>\n

2. Only two pairs of everything<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I only travel with two pairs of whatever. One pair on my back, and one pair in my bag.<\/p>\n

For example, when I travel, I only have two Uniqlo Airism V-Neck Mesh Black shirts<\/a>, two Drymax ‘Hyper Thin’ Crew Black Socks<\/a> (medium–I have size 10.5 shoes), two ExOfficio boxer briefs<\/a> (black), one black cotton UNIQLO dress shirt<\/a>, one pair of black \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcjean leggings pants<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 (super-stretchy, also from UNIQLO), and one pair of black shoes (Nike Free Run Flyknit Motion RN, black<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Every night, I wash the boxers, shirt, and socks in the shower with shampoo. I then wring it in the shower, and hang dry it. It is dry by the next day.<\/p>\n

This strategy will save you so much headache. I wish someone taught this me sooner. Most people are suckers\u00e2\u20ac\u201d traveling with way too many clothes. This will make your life easier and less stressful.<\/p>\n

3. One backpack<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I currently use the ThinkTank Perception 15 backpack<\/a> (black). It is all I need. It carries my laptop, my Ricoh GR II<\/a> camera, my earbuds, one pair of extra clothes, toiletries (I like the MUJI travel toiletry case\u00e2\u20ac\u201d in black), and Carmex chapstick.<\/p>\n

Honestly, the benefit of traveling with one backpack: it makes your life soooooooooo<\/em> much easier.<\/p>\n

You don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to be a sucker and wait in line to check in your luggage. You are a lot more mobile while traveling. You can walk miles without fatigue. You can easily put your backpack in front of your airplane seat; no issues.<\/p>\n

Homework assignment: One backpack<\/h3>\n

Next time you travel or go away for a weekend somewhere, just bring one bag.<\/p>\n

It can be a gym bag, a shoulder bag, a camera bag, a school backpack \u00e2\u20ac\u201d whatever.<\/p>\n

Treat it a fun little game\u00e2\u20ac\u201d a \u00e2\u20ac\u02dccreative constraint.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

And figure out what you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t<\/em> need for a trip. It will make your trip more fun.<\/p>\n

4. Bring your laptop<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

One thing I believe in is you should always travel with your laptop. Yes, even if it is heavy.<\/p>\n

Why? To be frank, when you travel\u00e2\u20ac\u201d you will want to do creative work. For me, that means writing, blogging, looking at photos, making music, making videos, etc. So if you have your laptop \u00e2\u20ac\u201d you have more ability to produce and create things.<\/p>\n

Of course you can just travel with only your smartphone. I think that is pretty cool too \u00e2\u20ac\u201d if you wanna be super-light.<\/p>\n

However I have experimented with both. And it is always better to have a laptop.<\/p>\n

If you travel, you will want to write about your experiences, blog, and connect with friends back while you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re on the road. And you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t wanna just consume experiences while you travel. You wanna produce<\/em> and create<\/em> stuff even while on the road.<\/p>\n

Homework assignment: Travel with your laptop, always<\/h3>\n

If you have an old-ass PC laptop that weighs a brick, either strengthen up and bring it along \u00e2\u20ac\u201d or buy a new laptop.<\/p>\n

I recommend buying a used 11-inch MacBook Air. I used it from my only machine from 2011-2014 and it was great, until it got stolen.<\/p>\n

If you can afford it, I recommend the 12\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 MacBook (get maximum processing speed and RAM).<\/p>\n

If you are on a budget, just pick up a cheap ChromeBook for $300 USD.<\/p>\n

5. Spend more time in fewer places<\/h2>\n

\"eric-kim-street-photography-lg-g4-smartphone\"<\/p>\n

For example, if you have 5 days to travel \u00e2\u20ac\u201d spend the entire 5 days in Hanoi, rather than spending 2 days in Hanoi, 1 day in Dalat, 1 day in Hoi An, and 1 day in Saigon.<\/p>\n

Traveling is exhausting. It is better to spend more time staying put in one place, then traveling and seeing a lot of stuff.<\/p>\n

Why? First of all \u00e2\u20ac\u201d you will get to know a place deeper and better. You will be less exhausted; so more energy to do shit you actually wanna do. Also you will save money.<\/p>\n

So now when I travel, I will try to spend the entire time in just one place. So for example, when I go to New York, I spend the entire 5 days in the Lower-East side\u00e2\u20ac\u201d rather than trying to see the entire island or sight-seeing in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n

Or when I am in New Orleans, I spend the entire time on Royal street.<\/p>\n

When I am in LA, I spend the entire time in Downtown LA (between ILCAFE and the Fashion District).<\/p>\n

When in SF, I spend the entire time in the Mission (I like to shoot street photography around the 24th & Mission BART station) and hang out at coffee shops near there.<\/p>\n

When in Tokyo, I like to spend the entire time near Kitsune Cafe.<\/p>\n

When in Kyoto, I like to just hang out with my friend Sean Lotman, near his house.<\/p>\n

When in Paris, I always like to hang out in the Jewish neighborhood.<\/p>\n

When in Chicago, I like to only hang out in Wicker Park area (with my cousin Holly Pyon and her partner David).<\/p>\n

When in Toronto, I always hang out with Neil Ta in Chinatown.<\/p>\n

When in Vancouver, I always hang out at Revolver Cafe (and hang out with Terry and Take \u00e2\u20ac\u201d aka big head taco).<\/p>\n

When in London, I always hang out in East London.<\/p>\n

When in Stockholm, I always hang out with my buddies Brian Sparks, Mattias L, and Ola.<\/p>\n

When in Berkeley, I always hang out at Artis or Philz.<\/p>\n

When in Singapore, I always hang out with Callan, Dav, Adam, Aik Beng Chia, and eat chicken rice and drink kopi near Chinatown\/Arab street.<\/p>\n

When in Seoul, I always like to hang out in Hongdae.<\/p>\n

When in Hanoi, I always like to go to \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcVUI STUDIO\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 (the coolest coffee shop in Hanoi), and always eat at Namaste, MUM, U Dam Chay, or Barique. I always shoot photos next to Hoan Kiem Lake with my friend Chu Viet Ha.<\/p>\n

When in Seattle I always hang with my buddies Walter, Marcus, Chris, Chris, Jill, Anna, and hang out on the hill with Walter and drink the three V coffee shops (Victrola is my favorite).<\/p>\n

When in Hong Kong, always with Gary Tyson, Vishal Somji, Geoffrey, and<\/p>\n

Melbourne; Fitzroy with my buddies Costa, Benjamin Thompson, Nick Chen.<\/p>\n

Sydney; always with Greg Marsden, mostly in Kings Cross.<\/p>\n

Anyways sorry I got a bit distracted; the lesson is\u00e2\u20ac\u201d spend the entire time traveling in one place to get to know it really well, to spend less money, and be less stressed.<\/p>\n

6. Airbnb over hotels<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Airbnb; always. Cheaper, you have a kitchen to make coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner. More personal than cold hotel rooms, and much cheaper.<\/p>\n

7. No tourist landmarks; only coffee shops<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

When I travel somewhere, I always ask the locals:<\/p>\n

\n What should I not<\/em> do here?\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

They will tell you all the dumb touristy stuff to avoid.<\/p>\n

For example, in NYC do not<\/em> go to the empire state building, to the statue of liberty, or time square.<\/p>\n

In SF, skip the bridge, fishermans wharf, and just hang out at a coffee shop in the Mission.<\/p>\n

In LA, skip hollywood\u00e2\u20ac\u201d hang out in Downtown LA.<\/p>\n

In London, skip big ben. Hang out in Shoreditch.<\/p>\n

In Paris skip the Eiffel Tower; hang out in Bercy Village.<\/p>\n

In Marseille, skip the fish and eat the couscous instead.<\/p>\n

Just google image tourist landmarks. I spend all my time in coffee shops abroad, enjoy conversation with strangers, long walks, and shooting street photos.<\/p>\n

8. Underrated places to travel<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Here are the most underrated places which are my personal favorites to travel to, which are affordable:<\/p>\n