I’m not a huge fan of surprises, good or bad. For this reason, I like to plan out my every move and try to have my ducks in a row before doing everything. But I’ve learned that trying to religiously stick to my plans is a mistake. One problem is that it is literally impossible to plan out ever scenario when traveling. Sure, you can bring an umbrella, extra money, and print out a detailed itinerary, but the chances of you encountering a snag in your plan are pretty good.

We walked for 2 hours to visit this place and then it was closed! – Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia in Manaus, Manaus

And when your plans become muddled, it’s good to realize that wandering around aimlessly in a foreign city can actually be a lot of fun. Keep in mind things that most cities have: markets, parks, museums, religious centers, government buildings. If you wander around long enough, you’ll find something fun and interesting to do, something that you had no idea existed.

While in Japan we randomly came across this cherry blossom party of university students on a small island in the middle of a river – Kyoto, Japan

So when you’re traveling abroad, try to live in the moment and don’t try to plan every little detail of your trip.

-ERV