YOUNG ADVENTURE – IT’S ALL IN THE EXPERIENCE

I Sthere anyone who can say they dislike travel? Imagine exploring new places and visiting friends and family in foreign lands, or perhaps meeting new people and experiencing different cultures, tasting new foods and enjoying the sensations of foreign climates and extraordinary landscapes – people travel for many reasons; or is it more like people come up with all sorts of reasons to travel?

For some, especially those with itchy-feet and who love to roam the Earth, is a reason to get away required? While not necessarily so, the Supplements Team at theSun share grounds that have beckoned them a-packing. From fun and frolicking with their best buds, to a quiet time of discovery – solo, doing the touristy thing, and literally standing in awe before the wonders of the world, even gallivanting on challenging excursions to put their abilities to the test – they say, when the travel bug bites, you’ve simply got to go.

Have you come across someone with a rather cluttered tattoo design covering either half or the entire arm that they refer as a “tribal tattoo”? These designs are essentially watered down Polynesian tattoos of which the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand have perfected. Referred to as kirituhi for non-Maori wearers, designs for Maori tattoos are created akin to the wearer’s life stories. They draw inspiration from traditional Polynesian motifs, often based on hunters and the ocean. Maori-style tattoos in New Zealand are globally renowned, so minimal research is required to find a good place that offers it.

Just as vibrant as the country the art hails from; Japanese tattoos are striking, an iconic artful conception drawn from colourful cultural motifs such as mythological beasts, Shinto deities and animals. Even if the art of irezumi – literally translated as “insert ink” – has had a long, complicated and downright controversial history in the Land of the Rising Sun, there has been a resurgence in the art form in these modern times. Finding tattoo studios or artists in Japan can be relatively challenging, but the accessibility to information through the internet makes these specialists somewhat easier to locate than before. For the full irezumi experience, try looking for artists that specialise in tebori, which is the traditional Japanese method of tattooing that uses both hands and a rod made out of either wood or metal.

Once a year, thousands flock to Thailand, to Wat Bang Phra, a temple in the Nakhon Pathom Province for the Wai Kru festival. Concurrently, temple monks will offer traditional yantra tattoos. The usual tattoo machines are not used in this case, instead either a metal spike or a sharpened bamboo is employed to engrave the skin. What further sets the yantra tattoo apart from contemporary tattooing is that the designs are based on Buddhism, and choices are few. If you have trouble picking a specific design, the monk will be glad to select one based on your “aura”. No matter where the wind takes you to get yourself inked, just remember the two golden rules when getting tattooed: “Good tattoos aren’t cheap and cheap tattoos aren’t good” and “Research, research, research!” No one wants to fly to a foreign land only to haphazardly choose a dodgy place to have their bodies marked for life with something of bad quality and botched design. Millennials make up almost a quarter of the world’s population today and are currently the largest and most influential group of consumers. Their spending habits have shaped and sometimes destroyed industries, forcing brands to constantly develop marketing tactics and business practices to cater to a generation whose social conscience drives their spending habits. Then again, millennials are also reported to more likely spend on “experiences” rather than just products. When travelling, millennials apparently look for an “authentic” and “immersive” experience that helps them explore and grow their identity. With the abundance of travel booking sites catered to millennials, the young set have ample options to choose a trip that sings to their tune ... Something Just Like This.

Travel agents such as Contiki are favoured among the young. They provide more than just tours; offering niche experiences, customised itineraries and extraordinary tour packages. Its target market: those aged 18 to 35. Tours are also distinctly and creatively categorised – Discoverer Traveller; High Energy; Independent Insider; In-depth Explorer; Sailing, Cruise & Beach; Camping; Winter & Ski; and Short Trips & Festivals, with tours that sometimes takes customers across multiple countries.

In a 2017 interview with Travel Weekly, Contiki global CEO Casper Urhammer shared that “Contiki research found that good food rates highest among the things that today's travelers want and appreciate most”, prompting Contiki to include “Taste Chianti and antipasto in a 16th century Tuscan winery”, “Grab tapas in Madrid” and “Dine on the River Nile” experiences among its packages.

With satiating the senses a huge priority in travel, Airbnb, which began as an app for homeowners to rent out space to travellers, has moved into providing unique experiences. From making “wagashi” in Japan to getting up close to wolves in a Canadian wolf sanctuary, users can add value to their holiday with uncommon activities to entertain their wildest wants and wishes.

All that fun however, may rack up the travel bill, which boils down to why millennials are reported to prefer travelling in groups. While it lowers costs to an extent, accommodating schedules, wants and needs of a big group isn’t easy, the reason why millennials opt for group tours with individuals they don’t know. They still get to surf the waves in Punta Mita today, go zip lining in the jungle and tour cathedrals the next, plus watch mariachi bands in Guadalajara after.

Picking up on the millennial travellers’ social conscious approach to travel, Ethical Traveler, a non-profit organisation which uses tourism to protect human rights, offers small tours for the millennial who seeks culture immersion in their wanderings. Travellers can feel good in their experience visiting the hidden gems of the Baltic, exploring Cuba’s visual and performance arts scene, even volunteering at a sea turtle sanctuary in Nicaragua.