The unspoken rule goes that, despite what social media might have you believing, nobody really wants to see an extensive collection of your holiday pictures. And, for the most part, people don't want to hear all that much about your trip, either.
Colleagues might ask, “How was your vacation?”, expecting a reply of no more than five words: “Yeah, it was good, thanks!”
Not me.
If I'm not there with you, I want to hear every little detail about a trip, from where you shopped at the airport and what your in-flight meal was like, to the bunker-turned-gallery you stumbled upon during a long weekend in Tirana.
This is one of the joys of working on the Features desk at The National – everyone's curious. From which beach getaway books you packed (and barely creased the spine of), to what the breakfast buffet was like at the hotel you stayed at on your trip to Greece, we're all ears.
This is how my colleagues and I recently got into a discussion of what makes the perfect plane movie.
Is it a tearjerker? People's emotions tend to be heightened on planes, so movies such as Field of Dreams and Flow are ideal if a cathartic cry is needed. Then there's the nostalgia watch, one that makes easy re-viewing between meal trays and cabin announcements. See the rest of the team's suggestions here.
Films might be made for flying, but an audiobook is ideal for a road trip, especially the audiobooks that are better than their printed counterparts.
Of course, there are some types of road trips that are as much about drinking in the route as enjoying the destination – such as the ones Simon Wilgress-Pipe has rounded up around the region.
While road trips bring back memories of childhood holidays in the UK for me – which involved listening to 1980s ballads and 1990s pop on the radio (alongside some car karaoke led by myself), as we drove down to Cornwall or up to see family in Birmingham from London – flights are synonymous with my years of more independent travel, be it with others or solo.
Now, this has developed into a curiosity for all the different kinds of ways to travel. I recently embarked on a cruise around Alaska, which was a novel experience for me. Earlier in the year, I walked from Portugal to Spain along the famed Camino De Santiago route – although planes were involved for both.
My bucket list also includes taking a sleeper train journey – perhaps Saudi Arabia's upcoming luxurious Dream of the Desert? Elsewhere, I've recently been reading about journeys by horseback, trips measured in marathon runs and endurance cycles from capital city to capital city. These are just some of the itineraries you can consider on returning from your summer break, all charged to plan the next adventure.
Until next time, travel well.
Conquering a fear of flying
In part, alternative modes of transport have been on our minds this week after reading an insightful piece by Gemma White about overcoming anxieties about air travel.
As regular flyers, many of us don't think twice before jumping on a plane, eye mask and neck pillows at the ready. But aerophobia (fear of flying) is often cited as one of the most common phobias, and studies suggest as many as 40 per cent of people get nervous or feel uncomfortable when boarding a flight.
“For some, fear of flying is a discrete, situational phobia without broader psychological complications,” says Christi Gadd, psychologist at Thrive Wellbeing Centre. “This may involve fear of turbulence, crashing or losing control during a flight. It may be triggered by a past traumatic experience while flying, vicarious learning such as hearing about an aviation disaster, or classical conditioning related to safety and danger.”
Whether for yourself or a loved one, read here to find out tried-and-tested ways of conquering a fear of flying.
Road-tripping in the UAE
For those of us who aren't heading home or flying off to a new destination in August, a staycation with a road-trip twist is a worthy contender for a long weekend away.
Be it cashing in on coastal charm while driving to Fujairah, or setting out for the lush valleys of Salalah, there are plenty of scenic routes both within and just outside the UAE.
In his round-up of seven of the best road trips to take from the Emirates, Simon Wilgress-Pipe describes these treks as “immersive experiences that demand a spirit of adventure”, noting they also require a well-prepped vehicle and driver.
See the full list of routes here, and a guide to making sure your car is fully prepped here.
In the spotlight: Penang
Travelling to Malaysia’s state of Penang, most visitors head immediately to the Unesco World Heritage site of George Town, a buzzing urban cocktail of colonial and Chinese architecture, hip boutique hotels, dazzling street food and gourmet fine dining.
But this luxuriant, tropical island – known for centuries as the Pearl of the Orient – also has a little-visited, unspoilt rural side, perfect to explore for a couple of days at a slow pace, away from the crowds. That was top of John Brunton's list as he set off to explore the sleepy town of Balik Pulau.
As his taxi took the opposite direction of city traffic, Brunton drove through the verdant heartland of Penang, writing: “Before long, the road is surrounded by rolling hills clad with thick rainforest.”
While there, skipping fancy hotels in favour of immersive stays is the way to do it, he says. “Opt for a slice of local life alongside a Malay family in a homestay, or try out the new trend of eco-friendly glamping locations popping up all over this part of the island.”
Read more about a slow travel trip around Penang here.
Travel news this week
Top travel tip
Inspired to embark on a long drive with friends or family? Make sure you prep ahead to keep up the in-drive entertainment, too.
If you're into quizzing, hunt down and download audio Q&A games from a streaming service, ready to play during the ride. If music is more your thing, Spotify allows you to create a link to share with every passenger to create a dedicated playlist before hitting the road.
Car-trip Bingo might need some prepping beforehand – and those keen can tailor it to their route – while 20 Questions and the Licence Plate game are always good on-the-go backups.
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