One of the things I used to enjoy most about solo travel was talking with people at restaurants and bars. I'd start conversations about the local food or drinks, and before long I'd be hearing stories about the area itself.
There was nothing wrong with that, but lately I've been doing it less often. The reason is simple: alcohol.
When you're drinking, a pleasant conversation can easily turn into a long one. Before I know it, I've had more than I intended. The next morning, a hangover makes me reluctant to go out, and I sometimes end up skipping places I had planned to visit.
Some people might ask why I don't just stop drinking altogether. After all, my trips would still be enjoyable without alcohol. But for me, that's not really an option. Tasting local drinks and cocktails made by bartenders around Japan is an essential part of my travels.
Still, the most important thing is experiencing the place itself. Alcohol is only one part of that experience. If drinking becomes the main purpose of the trip, I've lost sight of what's important.
Recently, I've also started taking notes while I'm traveling. I used to write down my thoughts after returning home, but it's obvious that notes written on the road capture the experience while it's still fresh.
Once I started doing this, I realized I was observing and thinking about far more things than I had ever noticed before. Those notes could become future articles, and perhaps even a book someday. That's when I began to see them differently.
As a result, I started paying more attention to the atmosphere of each place and to the drink in front of me. The more I focused on those things, the more I found myself writing down. Naturally, I spent less time talking.
These days, I usually wait for people to start a conversation with me instead of starting one myself. If there's something I want to ask, I save it for when I'm about to leave. That way, conversations stay brief, and I don't end up lingering longer than I intended.
I may talk less than I used to, but I come home with more notes. Looking back, I think I've learned to experience my travels more deeply than before.
