Escaping the Algorithm

Sometimes, the best way to travel is to put your phone away and look up

Words: Phoowadon Duangmee

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do” may be ancient advice, but it still serves as the best guide for travel.

The true joy in discovering a new destination is not about seeing the sights, but understanding how the country lives. In Thailand, morning begins with the irresistible aroma of grilled chicken at a bustling market. In Spain, dinner is a slow affair stretching well beyond midnight. In Japan, shoes are left neatly at the threshold, while across Southeast Asia, stepping into a temple requires mindfulness and modesty.

To travellers, these everyday rituals may seem like inconveniences. In truth, they are the very essence of experiencing somewhere new.

Today, it is wonderfully easy to land anywhere in the world fully prepared. Google Maps plots our quickest route. Social media recommends the prettiest cafés, and online reviews dictate our order even before we open the menu. Convenient? Absolutely! Yet the best travel memories are made when we put away our phones and simply look around.

A brief chat with a market vendor, taxi driver or local priest can liberate you from the algorithm’s beaten path. It might lead you to an authentic neighbourhood noodle stall without an English menu, a quiet beach missing from your saved lists, or a story no search engine can uncover. These spontaneous encounters are the heartbeat of any journey, reminding us that every destination is a living community long before it becomes a holiday spot.

This local pulse is the quieter, overlooked dimension of sustainability. Responsible travel is not just about carrying a reusable bottle, dining locally or protecting delicate ecosystems. It is about fostering goodwill that allows tourism and daily life to coexist.

“Doing as the locals do” doesn’t mean pretending to be a local. It means arriving with enough curiosity to sense the rhythm of a place – and enough grace to blend in.

Sometimes the most rewarding way of travelling is to simply arrive, look and listen.