Define: traveling

An acquaintance recently went on a trip and is now marvelling at the things you can learn if you travel cheap, by foot, and through the off-beat path. I couldn't agree with him more. I myself am a fan of going around new cities on foot, and while I like to visit tourist spots, I also like every opportunity to see how locals live. And I certainly do not have anything against traveling cheap. If I can save a few pesos by slashing some creature comforts off the plan (read: a cheaper room that uses a shared bathroom over a room with a private one) I will do it.

These things certainly support exploring, which I think is the very essence of why people travel. Someone staying in a hostel does not intend to sit in his or her room fiddling with a computer; you stay in a cheaper room because you plan to be out most of the day, and use that room for a bit of sleep and rest only. Traveling on foot lets you see sights which otherwise would just zoom past you if you were in a van or a cab. Walking through an off-beat path is a great way to see how locals live, instead of just seeing the picture that was created for tourists.

Whichever way of traveling a person chooses, some things remain the same. If exploring is the essence of traveling, open-mindedness should be the end result of each trip: seeing a place in a different light. How each traveler achieves that end result is solely to his/her discretion. Some people prefer a no-worries trip, with every transportation, meal and tour arranged for them, while some people prefer a no-frills trip, with just a map and a place to crash at night. Whichever method each traveler prefers, the end goals are the same - to see something new, be somewhere different, and come out with his/her own opinion of that place.

Ringo's Foyer in Malacca, Malaysia - definitely a no-frills travel option

Being well-travelled is having the ability to see things with open eyes and an open mind, to know that people have different cultures and beliefs, and to be able to respect how each individual prefers to approach life's experiences, including the choices they make between renting an air-conditioned van versus going on foot.