How Intentionally Conversing with Strangers will Improve your Travels

Wonder, jealousy, curiosity, humility, and gratitude – these were all emotions I experienced when I encountered a blend of individuals across this past year. In this article, I would like to introduce you to some of these amazing people through my own eyes and opinions. People travel for exploration, relaxation, cultural immersion, learning, self-discovery, culinary experiences, health benefits, work, and fulfilling bucket list dreams. Beyond these, something we don’t intentionally engage with while we travel is - the people we meet.

Prior to this year, I had never made an effort to meet people on my travels. I've interacted with the people of a region or city through tourist attractions, cultural hotspots, history, and food. However, the people themselves, whether indigenous or fellow travelers, were lacking. 2023 has taken me to Vietnam, Costa Rica, the Philippines, back to India, and to Seattle, California, and Florida in the United States.

I was fortunate to meet someone special at practically every destination I visited. Not everyone had a crazy or unique story, but that's fine! What I was able to take away from each interaction, whether it lasted a few hours or a few minutes, were the salient aspects. Finally, you don't need everyone to be someone ostensibly important; everyone has a story to tell, and it can alter your opinions and worldview. Learnings from journeys with people from places as far apart as New Zealand, South Africa, Germany, Tonga, and Italy (to mention a few) can be profound and mutually helpful.

Many of the people I met were on my solo journey to Vietnam. Traveling alone forced me to interact with others, and staying in hostels was beneficial in getting to know people. Fortunately, Vietnam, which I visited at the beginning of the year, laid the groundwork for me to further engage with people on my travels, regardless of the environment/social context I was in. Here are a few examples of folks whose paths I crossed and from whom I learned something:

Caleb – A 24-year-old New Zealander who had lived in Tonga, China, and Laos. I met Caleb in the hostel I was staying at in Hanoi on my 2nd day in Vietnam. We grabbed dinner at Don Duck that night, following which we walked 2 streets to the Beer Quarter and exchanged stories about travel, the different places we’d lived in, and the histories of our countries. As Caleb told me about all his moves, I couldn’t help feeling a blend of awe and envy. I told him I was nervous about moving to Chicago and a new city. He explained that people move all the time, but what matters is the reason we move, and what we do once we get there. For me, what was particularly valuable was that a guy only a couple of years older than myself had moved through 4 countries of drastically different cultures and yet found a way to balance out his life. That realization gave me so much confidence and showed me how moving places does not have to be scary.

Unnamed American at Don Duck Restaurant – 76, (looked 50) joined in on my conversation with Caleb. Even after the meal ended we sat at the restaurant chatting with him for over 45 minutes. Of all the people I have met, he was the one I was most inspired by. He lives in Jamaica and told us about numerous travels to Belize and across Central America. From Hanoi was heading to Amritsar (India), Israel, and Italy. What shocked me most of all was how young he looked. Regardless of his age, he was traveling across the world all by himself. He was the living embodiment of age is just a number. I think it helped me come to terms with the idea that while I might not always be able to travel as much as I like, it can always be a possibility later in life so long as I maintain good health and the right attitude.

Unnamed Indians in Monteverde & Hoi An. In Monteverde, I encountered 2 Indians: a friend who was visiting a Mumbaikar working in San Jose and had traveled to Monteverde for a weekend getaway. In Hoi An, I met a man at my hostel (mid/late twenties) who was living and working out of Southeast Asia. Both sets of encounters showcased amazing feats of bravery and commitment. Hearing about someone moving to San Jose, Costa Rica for work was like me having to move to Chicago, at a wildly different scale. Moving to a big city where you don’t speak the language fluently, and don’t have any friends/family would surely be a daunting decision. The man I met in Hoi An was doing something a tad less scary but was bringing what is a dream of mine into a reality for himself. He was working at an Indian firm, entirely virtual, traveling across Vietnam. I would often see him working in the hostel’s lobby or by the riverfront. He had created mobility and freedom for himself all while ensuring he could live a financially independent life.

Ernest – Owner of SnapStay Hoi An focused on creating an enjoyable travel experience for everyone! While I did not get to speak with Ernest as much as I wanted to, I could see him ooze passion for his work and hostel. Originally from Singapore, he had spent years traveling solo until he came across the small town of Hoi An. He’d created more than a hostel. It was a community for fellow solo travelers and people to meet and engage with one another. He held weekly happy hours, had all his guests join a WhatsApp group, and encouraged group activities across the town. Ernest would manage the bar, check in, and run about other areas of the hostel whenever he got a chance. He loved interacting with every single one of his guests and ensured he was always available. What I took away most was his love for what he did and how he passed that on to others. It was enriching to see someone follow their heart and live a fulfilled life despite being on their own.

Paulo and his Wife in Ha Long Bay – An Italian couple who are extremely well-traveled and curious about the world. While almost all my encounters have been about travel stories, cultures, or life in general, this led to a business discussion. As I was sitting at dinner on a boat in Ha Long Bay, the couple beside me struck up a conversation. We spoke about travel, our respective countries but also an interesting opportunity. Talking about work and business I happened to mention that my dad works in freight forwarding and customs clearance. Paulo who is the CFO of a pizza dough manufacturer explained that he had been attempting to expand into the Indian market but, was finding it challenging due to laws/agricultural import restrictions and asked me to connect the two. I left with a business card and a few weeks later they began discussing potential collaboration points.

Heiu – a 22-year-old boat/tour guide from the village of Viet Hai, goes by Andy. There was a significant language barrier which made communication a bit tricky. He had moved from the tiny village of 150 to Ha Long for a better life. As I was the first one on the boat that morning, he talked to me and constantly asked questions about life in the US and India. Heiu was extremely curious and was teaching himself English to try and move from Ha Long to a bigger city like Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi. It was inspiring to see Heiu's desire to build a life for himself. Even though I had met all these amazing travelers, it was important for me to see how locals live. I think this was the best encounter just because of how raw it was and how I got an insight into life moving from a small village over to a bigger city with hopes, dreams, and desires.

The one regret I do have from all of these encounters is the lack of photos I took with the people I came across. Pictures are a great way to not just remember places but also to recall the conversations and experiences you have. That's just another reason for me to book my next trip very soon!