To my greatest regret, we can't all be living the dream life 24/7 and stay jet setting around the world like millionaires and travel bloggers Gypsea Lust and Jay Alvarez. Sometimes we simply just don't have the time nor the funds to pack up our suitcases and embark on a global expedition.
There's nothing better than the feeling of utter relaxation when in a distant destination unreachable by mundane reality, with the demanding burdens of study and work lifted off your shoulders. I often feel the urge to escape and be a part of an adventure to learn new things about the world and myself, a feeling always fulfilled through travel.
But we all crave this mental break for our own sanity, so why can't we feel the same without the plane ticket? This barrier shouldn't stop you from living life to its fullest like you're on a holiday.
That feeling of relaxation and enlightenment can be grasped without your passport and a foreign country. The only place you truely need to travel is into your own heart and into your own backyard, as what could be described as a "staycation".
Learn to play the tourist in your own city. Venture out with open eyes and an open mind, and prepare to view the familiar sights from a fresh perspective as if it was your first time seeing them. Admire the vastness of its beauty, learn its history and heritage, and acknowledge the diversity of people passing by, each with their own place in the world and story to tell.
Bring your camera and take pictures like a tourist, to scroll back upon in your next craving of escapism as a reminder of the true beauty of the life around you. A reminder that you don't need to travel far to feel alive. A reminder for gratitude and gratefulness that your life is so successful, fulfilled and of importance that you feel the need for this break.
Or better yet, ask a stranger to take that cheesy, typical tourist photo of you. I always get a rush of nervous excitement when asking a foreigner for a picture; they could be a great photographer or you could end up with one blurry mess, but it's a bond you'll share forever when you look back upon the photo.
Take the road less travelled and move through your city by a different route as per usual. Ditch your car and take the bus to see the local sights or take a stroll via a new path, you'll be surprised what beauty and details you've overlooked while driving.
Small shifts in your everyday routine can also widen your window for adventure. Make your daily agenda touristy by trying out a new restaurant, taking the scenic route home from work, or switching up your exercise routine to some new scenery.
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I am endlessly in awe of my own backyard on the beautiful Gold Coast of Australia, home to some of the worlds best beaches and most friendly faces. Day by day I count my blessings to live in a destination which people travel from other widths of the world to witness, and am reminded of its beauty in an instant with the daily hues of the sunset and the warmth of the ocean waters you'll find me swimming in every weekend.
I am constantly finding new places to explore within my own home turf, with the old ones never growing tiresome. Here are some of the Gold Coast's best hidden gems to leave you in awe of nature and give you those magical moments of feeling like a tourist in your own city:
Travel sparks our imagination, feeds our curiosity and reminds us of how much we all have in common. Don't let your lives burdens dull your sense of wanderlust; keep traveling constantly, even if that requires exploring your own home when abroad isn't an option. You never know what beauty you've been missing right under your nose all along.
Mirror Mira xxx