Robert Young Pelton on interacting with locals

Interacting with locals is essential to any meaningful vagabonding experience, and that’s why I devote an entire chapter to the topic in Vagabonding. In a recent issue of National Geographic Adventure, Dangerous Places author Robert Young Pelton gives some great advice on meeting strangers on the road, which I’ll reprint here:

Looking for enlightened travel? Put yourself in the hands of strangers.

By Robert Young Pelton

Here’s a radical idea for your next trip: Limit prep work to booking a hotel room for the first night and buying a decent map. Once you reach your destination, set off to meet the locals. They’re the ones who will determine your itinerary.

The payoff for putting your plans in the hands of strangers? It leads to the kind of getaway where people are the adventure, personal relationships are the winding trails, and enlightenment is the summit.

Believe it or not, most people respond positively when I simply say, “I have come to your country to learn more about [insert subject here]. Can you help me?”

There are mullahs, professors, mayors, warlords, and nomads who await your earnest inquiries. That’s how I got to hang out with a snake charmer in India, call sharks in the Solomon Islands, and — most memorably — tour every square inch of Tingo Mar

Posted by | Comments (7)  | August 14, 2003
Category: Vagabonding Advice


7 Responses to “Robert Young Pelton on interacting with locals”

  1. hailey pelton Says:

    hey robert i have the same last name as you and would like to get in contact

  2. An anonymous poster Says:

    ‘Black Flag Cafe forum’ is the place to hook up with Pelton & co.

    It used to be a site for harcore adventure travel types. A good number of people there DO travel to ‘Way out of the way places, but the site has cooled down some in that regard. Prepare for a good amount of anti-American sentiment…

    Some of the older hardcore ‘Flaggers got annoyed that the edgy travel was replaced with more political and current event discussion, along with the expected arguments. There are other forums there for those with multiple interests: discussions on equipment, entertainment, paranormal experiences and humor to name a few.

    It’s a lively site, no doubt (you will NOT be bored), but you’d best have some chops: i.e. travel to places like China, Haiti,
    the Balkans, Peru, the Middle East, etc under your belt if you want to get deep into the discussions. I have limited overseas travel, but am still alive and have all my limbs.

    Some of the BFC crowd also attend at Polosbastards.com

    Peltons’ Mr. DP laughing skull stickers can be purchased off the Black Flag Cafe site.