I hope you have had a wonderful Qatar National Day and enjoyed all the celebrations going on in the country. I am writing you from Pokhara. Currently I’m on a short break to Nepal, the majesty of the Himalayas is just breath-taking. When I travel, I’m usually OCD (Obsessive-compulsive disorder) about planning and scheduling, but since it has been such a hectic year, I am going to try something different with this trip and just go with the flow. I think the perfect vacation is a combination of with the flow and some pre- planning. If you have a trip coming up soon, here are some of my suggestions.
Research shows that the planning before our vacations gives us more joy than the actual trip itself, it’s all about the excitement and anticipation. Usually I tend to over schedule and over plan when I travel. On this trip I am learning how nice it can be to explore a new place for the day without any plans at all. You can discover places you might not find on the Internet and uncover city’s secret gems.
There’s nothing worse than being in a new city and spending an hour Googling a dinner spot. Although too much planning can stress you out, a little bit can be good. Make a few dinner reservations or find a few places you want to try ahead of time so you don’t waste time staring at your phone. Pokhara has amazing restaurants, everything’s so fresh and organic here.
Don’t get me wrong — I love taking photos, but I have also learnt the benefit of not always having my phone in my hand. On my last trip to Langkawi I wanted to savour the moment, without being distracted by constantly taking pictures.
There are small things you can do to pack smarter, such as bringing lightweight fabrics that are easy to layer, as well as versatile shoes — hiking shoes that double as athletic shoes, wedges that can work both for your night out and during the day.
Most of us love travelling but vacations are usually always over way too quick. I think it’s important to keep our spirits high and maintain that sense of wonder once you are back to real life.
If you are travelling for the festive season I hope you have a wonderful trip and come back to Doha with lots of new stories to tell.
* The author is a consultant and coach. Instagram handle: @miss_shefa, Website: missshefa.com
Shefa Ali
