The past several weeks have been a wild ride due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. From Malaysia's restriction movement order and Singapore requesting residents to defer all travel, to several countries putting stricter travel and border restrictions in place, many people have had to put a halt to their travel plans.
Credit: Giphy
Although travelling isn't an option right now, we believe that you shouldn't stop dreaming about your next great adventure. Sure, you may physically be at home but there are plenty of ways to have a mental vacation and explore the world without leaving the comfort of your couch or bed! So, we've put together a list of things you can do that'll fuel your wanderlust while keeping the adventurer in you alive ?
P.S. While you dream of travel, don't forget to stay healthy with these 8 tips for boosting your immunity during the coronavirus outbreak.
1. Binge-watch travel shows
If you've gone down the path of becoming a couch potato, why not make it worthwhile by binge-watching travel shows that are available to you? ? Look to online platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube where you'll find a treasure trove of movies, documentaries and series that'll inspire your next getaway. Eat your way through different world cultures with shows like 'Ugly Delicious', 'Somebody Feed Phil' and 'Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown'. Let films such as 'A Good Year' and 'Amélie' show you the beauty of France or experience the ultimate global adventure through 'The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty' (trust us on this one).
Subscribed to Astro instead? Then make sure to take advantage of all its movie channels that are free for viewing from March 18 to March 31! Channels like HBO, Fox Movies and Cinemax are open to all viewers no matter which package or plan you're subscribed to. With an endless amount of shows at your fingertips, it's time to grab your favourite snack and go on an exciting marathon-viewing around the world.
P.S. Looking for other things to do? Here are 10 ways to make the most out of your time at home.
2. Revisit travel memories
One of the safest places to visit right now amid the pandemic is your travel archives. That's right! Prepare to go down a rabbit hole of all the destinations you've visited in the past and feel the nostalgia from some of your favourite travel memories. Whether that's lounging on a sandy beach in Langkawi, trying on a kimono in Okinawa or admiring the Quranic Park in Dubai, sorting through the pictures will definitely keep your wanderlust alive and maybe even give you an idea of where you'd like to go next ?
P.S. Our writer, Faruq, shared one of his favourite travel memories: paragliding in Switzerland!
3. Create a travel bucket list
We may be three months deep into the year, but it's never too late to start creating your travel bucket list. With more time on your hands now, it's the perfect window to think about where your next adventure should take place for when travel restrictions are lifted. Thinking of exploring the great outdoors? Then you might want to consider Switzerland, where the majestic Swiss Alps await or go down under for an adventure in Australia or New Zealand.
Dreaming of holiday filled with delicious eats instead? In that case, look no further than Bangkok's flavourful cuisine or maybe Taiwan's Muslim-friendly street food. The sky's the limit when it comes to a travel bucket list, so don't be afraid to put down your dreams on paper, no matter how big or small!
P.S. Need some inspiration? Then check out our list of 14 best Muslim-friendly destinations you need to visit in 2020.
4. Read travel books
If you're not much of a TV watcher, you can always bury your nose in the pages of books that'll transport you to places just as well as the cinematic world does (or dare we say even better). Put yourself in the hands of the many different authors who will guarantee an amazing virtual guide to the sights, sounds and smells of the world. As you snuggle under the covers of your bed, let your mind travel across borders with books like 'Eat, Pray, Love', 'The Alchemist' and 'Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail'. Even if you choose to just flip through travel magazines, seeing images of beautiful landscapes, colourful markets and friendly smiles of the locals, will surely spark your thirst for adventure.
P.S. For more inspiration, read more of our articles at Have Halal, Will Travel ?
5. Watch live streams and webcams
For those who are occupied with work at home, it's still possible to dream of an adventure even while you're busy. The way you do it: live streams and web cams. While unconventional, it's certainly one way to keep your spirit of travel alive. Tune into cams all over the world that let you watch intriguing events or see gorgeous scenery in real time and let the streams play in the background as you create the illusion of being anywhere else other than at home.
P.S. Experience Japan from your home with these 7 live streams and web cams.
6. Go on virtual tours
Thanks to technology, you can take a trip to all sorts of places around the world by going on virtual tours. While it may not be the same as real-life visits, the upsides are that you won't have to wait in long lines or fight through crowds to take a picture. And the best part? These tours are absolutely free (yay!) ? So, grab the opportunity to make virtual visits to places that would otherwise seem like a faraway dream. From world-class museums like the British Museum in London and the Louvre in Paris to zoos across the United States and even a tour of Walt Disney World, your time at home can be just as interesting as your last travel adventure.
Note: Your experience on a tablet or mobile device may vary across the different tours.
7. Explore travel accounts on social media
Let's be honest, we spend a lot of time on our phones and with a majority of people stuck at home feeling like there's not much else to do, it's safe to say that many have fallen into the addictive routine of gluing themselves to their mobile devices. While we definitely shouldn't be staring at screens 24/7, you can use the time that you spend on social media to explore different travel accounts and get a good dose of wanderlust. With so many creatives online whose accounts are centered around travel, you'll surely find something that meets your visual taste. Take it a step further and engage in Instagram's story feature that allows you to take quizzes like on HHWT's page where we do a weekly survey to find out more about our readers!
8. Learn about travel photography
If there's a time for self-improvement, it's during this period of confinement and what better way to keep your wanderlust fire burning than to up your travel photography game? Using various resources online, you can improve your editing skills and learn about different photography techniques. While putting what you've learnt to practice may be difficult, given that going outdoors is not the best idea, this can actually inspire you to plan a trip after the pandemic is over and experiment with travel photography.
9. Create a travel vision board
Dive into your collection of travel memories and create a travel vision board. Flight tickets, brochures, little trinkets and even hand-written notes are all things you can use to help visualize it. Cut out pictures from old magazines (make sure they're not someone's treasured belonging) or draw your own pictures. You can even include some of your favourite travel quotes and phrases to add to the board. Alternatively, you can opt for a digital version as well. Whichever you choose to do, being able to refer to a tangible travel plan puts you one step closer to visiting your dream destination.
10. Listen to travel podcasts
Podcasts have been a growing trend over the past couple of months and if you haven't had the chance to jump on it, we highly suggest that you do! Listening to travel podcasts is as easy as they come. Simply pick one of many travel podcasts (Flight of Fancy, The Budget-Minded Traveler), pop in your earphones and let conversations of travel stories, how to finance a vacation and lessons sweep you away as you do your house chores, sort out files on your computer or cook.
With this list in mind, keeping your wanderlust alive is really easy and proves to be really fun! Though we're going through a rather difficult time, let's remain positive and keep our hopes up for when travel is once again an option.