≡ Menu

Long-term Travelers Know Each Other

How to identify long-term travelers.

Support VBJ’s writing on this blog:

Long term travelers know each other on sight.

There is something about they way they scan a room, making eye contact with everyone, acknowledging its return. The decisive, slow way that they walk, the way they seem to be baiting people into engaging them.

Knowing how to interpret and give eye contact is often the difference between making friends and being alone.

All long term travelers become masters of eye contact. It’s a requirement for the profession — right up there with being able to read a map.

Tourists often keep their eyes in a tunnel. They have blinders up like a horse does when drawing a carriage. Their eyes are locked in position, focused straight ahead. The don’t acknowledge the people that are in a room with them. They seem to pretend that other people don’t exist. It’s not arrogance, it’s simple insecurity. In the new context of travel they seemingly don’t know how they should act, so they opt for trying to be as invisible as possible.

While the long term traveler tries to fill as much of the room as they can. They want to draw attention to themselves. This is how they make friends, get laid, and obtain the social connections that are vital to really get a look into a place.

SUPPORT

The only way I can continue my travels and publishing this blog is by generous contributions from readers. If you can, please subscribe for just $5 per month:

NEWSLETTER

If you like what you just read, please sign up for our newsletter!
* indicates required
Filed under: Perpetual Travel, Philippines, Travel Philosophy

About the Author:

I am the founder and editor of Vagabond Journey. I’ve been traveling the world since 1999, through 93 countries. I am the author of the book, Ghost Cities of China and have written for The Guardian, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Diplomat, the South China Morning Post, and other publications. has written 3729 posts on Vagabond Journey. Contact the author.

Support VBJ’s writing on this blog:

VBJ is currently in: Rome, Italy

1 comment… add one

Leave a Comment

  • Omar Ruiz-Diaz September 16, 2017, 12:11 am

    I built a figure of a man who pulls a four-meter bicycle for decades. I must confess, however, that not all the time I enjoy this particular way of generating this visual impact. A visual impact, anyway, that is part of my way of making a living, my business.

    Link Reply