This is so interesting because I initially made the distinction in my head that tourism involves a “disposability” and “extraction” in that means to an end, whereas travel involves a “humility” to experience things as they are on the terms of local people. But, you’re right. When I’ve experienced the commercialization of budget traveling or prided myself on the unnecessary 1 hour bus ride instead of 5 minute ride share, I’ve in reality perpetuated a system where I can feel better about myself versus the person staying in a five star resort for 3 days.
Still, I wonder what you think about immersion. I think both tourism and traveling offer experiences for immersion—tourism a more prescribed prepackaged one (think established tour guides) or travelers an either incredibly ingenuine overrun “off-the-path-experience” (as you know in Vang Vieng) or the occasional breakthrough of spending enough time in a place to get to know people on their own terms. It’s all tricky, but thanks for helping me clarify my thoughts
A lot of my travel recently has been very nomadic (one night one place, moving on every night) so this has made immersion difficult. Depending on the culture immersion has also ranged for me, for example Japanese culture is generally very averse to imposition (it's hyper-considerate) so I have found it a bit harder to "immerse" there.
I would perhaps think of immersion as one of the causes of imposition (another being struggle) that I mention in the piece. I just tend to not think about immersion much either as a tourist or a traveler. The reason why is I can't really measure or describe what it feels like to be immersed separate from the threads of struggle/imposition which to me are a bit more concrete.
I think one very related idea I do think about a lot is language, how much more integrated someone can be if they know the language. I say this as someone who doesn't look like he can speak Spanish (I can) and who does look like he can speak Japanese (I can't), which has led to different travel experiences between Spain and Japan.
This is so interesting because I initially made the distinction in my head that tourism involves a “disposability” and “extraction” in that means to an end, whereas travel involves a “humility” to experience things as they are on the terms of local people. But, you’re right. When I’ve experienced the commercialization of budget traveling or prided myself on the unnecessary 1 hour bus ride instead of 5 minute ride share, I’ve in reality perpetuated a system where I can feel better about myself versus the person staying in a five star resort for 3 days.
Still, I wonder what you think about immersion. I think both tourism and traveling offer experiences for immersion—tourism a more prescribed prepackaged one (think established tour guides) or travelers an either incredibly ingenuine overrun “off-the-path-experience” (as you know in Vang Vieng) or the occasional breakthrough of spending enough time in a place to get to know people on their own terms. It’s all tricky, but thanks for helping me clarify my thoughts
thanks for this!
A lot of my travel recently has been very nomadic (one night one place, moving on every night) so this has made immersion difficult. Depending on the culture immersion has also ranged for me, for example Japanese culture is generally very averse to imposition (it's hyper-considerate) so I have found it a bit harder to "immerse" there.
I would perhaps think of immersion as one of the causes of imposition (another being struggle) that I mention in the piece. I just tend to not think about immersion much either as a tourist or a traveler. The reason why is I can't really measure or describe what it feels like to be immersed separate from the threads of struggle/imposition which to me are a bit more concrete.
I think one very related idea I do think about a lot is language, how much more integrated someone can be if they know the language. I say this as someone who doesn't look like he can speak Spanish (I can) and who does look like he can speak Japanese (I can't), which has led to different travel experiences between Spain and Japan.