Like most travellers, I love to explore the places I go to. Of course, there is the researched place that I want to visit and explore. However this is not the type of exploring that I am talking about today. I am talking about the spare of the moment, just go for a walk and see what we find in the local area type of exploring.
This type of exploring is one of my favourite activities to do when visiting another country. It has allowed me to unearth some hidden treasures and stumble into out of the way places. At times, my exploration has provided me with funny experiences to really humbling moments on my journey.
The best thing about this type exploring is that you never know what you will come across or find. Through my exploring outings, I have come across some amazing the cafes and bookshops like The Cake Cafe which is well and truely hidden in some random back alley (8 Pleasants Pl) in Dublin, Ireland or the Ice-Cream Palour in Bugis, Singapore where I found Bacon Ice-cream. That’s right!!!! BACON ICE-CREAM!!! Who knew it was a thing!
Speaking about ice-cream and exploring, while exploring in Malahide in Ireland, I happened to come across a small ice-cream parlour that was situated between the beach and the local tennis club. When seeing this place I wondered if this would be the place I would finally find Guinness ice-cream. I went inside and asked the lady behind the counter. Her response filled my heart with pure joy when she told me that they had some in the fridge out back. I could not help myself and started to gloat to Anna who had been giving me hard time since the search for this mysterious ice-cream started. Upon the return of the lady behind the counter, she regrettably informed me that they had ran out of Guinness ice-cream. My heart broke instantly because I knew in my head what was coming. I looked up to see Anna smiling and giggling at me before the merciless teasing continued (but it was all done in good humour.)
One of the things I really enjoy on my exploring adventures are the smells. Be it fragrant or not so pleasant smells, they all contribute to the adventure. Each place has it own scent to it. Little India in Singapore would have to be my favourite place with it’s amazing curry smells.
Some of the most humbling experiences have happened while I was on my exploring journeys. They are often one on one conversation with local people. Two examples of these types of experiences are with a gentleman I met in Singapore, who every day would search through the rubbish bins to collect cans in order to pay for his food that day but was too proud to accept money from me due to me taking up his valuable time. The second was the disabled couple who were sitting on the ground outside the Mong Kong train station in Hong Kong as they begged for money so they could get a new wheel chair for the disabled lady.
If it was not for my walks and really taking the opportunity to explore the local area, I would have missed out on experiencing so many wonderful things and creating numerous life long memories. So, the next time you are on holidays somewhere, take a moment, and go enjoy stroll as you explore the local area.
The Man In The Pink Hat 