Are you sheltering at home? We know you love to travel but for many it's best to stay home at this time.
We've come up with a dozen different ways to travel & scratch your travel itch without leaving home!
Ideas of How to Travel from Home
1. Camping at home
Build a pillow fort, put the tent up in the backyard, throw some bed sheets over chairs. Make it a while night - make some popcorn, throw on a movie, or even BBQ your dinner outside as if you were camping at a campsite.
2. Books / Movies / Music
There are SO MANY amazing content from all around the world. Captions might sound like a lot of work but once you start watching, I promise it's easy and easily worth it.
3. Youtube / Instagram / Pinterest / Podcasts
You can watch some vlogs of people travels, or sharing their every day life in another country. You might be surprised to find some awesome travel podcasts you can listen to while cooking or cleaning.
4. Google maps/ Wikipedia
Type in a location and just start roaming! You'll be surprised by entertaining it is to just wander down a street in streetview. There's amazing 360 degree photos and beautiful photos that people have posted online in general. Read up about different locations. If you find something curious, try learning what it means to the people who live there.
5. Video chat
Stay in tough with friends, even if you can't go to a restaurant or their house to hang out. Video chat to catch up, play online games together, or even watch a movie with Netflix Party.
6. Practice Language
If you have a language you've always wanted to learn, why not learn it now? Download a language learning app or break out that old text book. You can also go online and find a language buddy who can practice the language with you via video call.
7. Property for sale / Hotels / Cool Air bnbs
Look up what different houses look like around the world. Find a neat hotel or AirBnb. What kind of decor or items would you like to have in your own home?
8. Food of different cuisines
Watch a travel food show, follow a new recipe, order delivery from a restaurant you've never tried before.
9. Makeup / Clothes of different places
Style differs all over the world, do some research into how people in a different location like to style their hair, makeup or clothing. Can you use what you have already to create a similar look?
10. Revisit your old photos
I'm guilty of taking a bajillion photos on a trip, getting home and never dealing with them! Sort though your old trip photos, organize them, print out some favorites. You can decorate your home with photos and souvenirs, make a photo album or scrapbook. Send them to your friends who was on the trip with you. Get creative!
11. Explore at home
The directive allows for people to go outside — and in fact, health officers encourage people to run, hike and walk their dogs, as long as they do it alone or with close family, and keep 6 feet away from others.
12. Plan future trips
Plan an imaginary future trip. Don't book anything just yet- but it's nice to dream about what you want to do, where to stay, and what to eat.
Some of our favorite travel / foreign content you should check out!
I asked Carmen and friends to contribute so thank you everyone! If you have some favorites please share with us by commenting below! Thank you!
Movies
- Parasite 기생충 (2019) [KO] (The one that won all the awards)
- Amélie / Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001) [FR] (A personal favorite of Karin's)
- The Lives of Others / Das Leben der Anderen (2006) [DE]
- Seven Samurai 七人の侍 (1954) [JA]
- Le Samouraï (1967) [FR]
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 卧虎藏龙 (2000) [ZH]
- Ip Man 葉問 (2008) [ZH dialect: Cantonese]
- Russian Ark Русский ковчег (2002) [RU]
- Yojimbo 用心棒 (1961) [JA]
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009) [SV] (David Fincher directed a Hollywood one in 2011)
- The Raid / Serbuan maut (2011) [IN]
- Jiong Ma 囧妈 (2020) [ZH]
- Big Fish (2003) [EN]
- A Silent Voice 映画 聲の形 (2017) [JA]
- Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) [EN]
- All the James Bond movies takes place in different locations around the world
TV Shows
Carmen’s current K-drama watchlist (All on Netflix)
- Itaewon Class 이태원 클라쓰 (re-invigorates our passion to make Arden Cove a successful business)
- Hyena 하이에나 (the 2nd episode at the karaoke bar was SUPER weird tho)
- Crash Landing on You 사랑의 불시착 (Prepare for wholesome feels)
- My Holo Love 나 홀로 그대 (cute but not realistic)
- Tomorrow With You - 내일 그대와 (Pretty darn cute)
More great travel shows
- Anything Anthony Bourdain is amazing
- Chef's Table (Gorgeously shot documentaries of unique restaurants around the world)
- Ugly Delicious
- Flavorful Origins
- Asian Night Markets
Books
- SALT FAT ACID HEAT (Also a Netflix Show)
- Pachinko (2017) by Min Jin Lee
- Shanghai Girls (2009) by Lisa See
- One Thousand and One Nights أَلْف لَيْلَة وَلَيْلَة (Collection of Middle Eastern folk tales)
- The Kite Runner (2003) by Khaled Hosseini, Berliani M. Nugrahani (Translator)
- Kitchen (1988) by Banana Yoshimoto, Megan Backus (Translator)
- Kokoro (1914) by Natsume Sōseki, Edwin McClellan (Translator)
Music
- Voyager Golden Record (music from around the world that was launched into Space. All the artistic achievements of mankind)
Youtube
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Safiya Nygaard (Fashion, beauty, travel, reviews of strange products)
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Bon Appétit (Andy Learns is relevant but I honestly love all their videos)
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Simon and Martina (Films their life in Japan, used to live in Korea so they have tons of videos on Korea as well.)
-
李子柒 Liziqi (Films her life in rural China, very peaceful)
Webtoons
Online comics you can read on the app WEBTOONS. Many of the authors live in various places around the world but they are translated in this app!
- Lore Olyumpus
- True Beauty
- Yumi Cells
- Devil Number 4
- Not Even Bones
- The Wrath & the Dawn
- SubZero
- Freaking Romance
- Midnight Poppy Land
- Punderworld
- My Dear Cold-Blooded King
- My Deepest Secret
Language Apps
- Memrise
- Rosetta Stone
- Duolingo
Locations
Temple with Buddhas wearing sunglasses: Wat Krok Krak วัดโกรกกราก
Stay Safe & Updated!
General tips from CDC/WHO
- Wash your hands often with soap for 20 seconds.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with tissue and throw away into a lined trash can
- Clean and disinfect frequently used / touched objects or surfaces
- Stay home if you are sick. Contact a health worker if you have symptoms like fever and a dry cough.
- Don’t touch your face, don’t travel if you are sick
Stay updated because recommendations are constantly changing, and always look up local advisories for where you live.
How to support small businesses during COVID-19
You can definitely support your favorite businesses, even without purchasing something:
- like, comment, subscribe to their social media channels
- sign up for mailing lists for updates / news
- share their posts, products, sales in your social media
- recommend their products to friends / family
If you do buy from them:
- shop & buy gift cards online
- leave a review if you love them
- post pictures / videos of you unboxing, using, and enjoying the product
- thank employees who are still working
- order takeout/delivery and tip a little more than usual
- consider gifting their products/ gift cards for birthdays/ holidays
Have favorites we should include in the list? Leave a comment below!
Karin is the co-founder of Arden Cove and co-creator of the Anti-Theft Waterproof Crossbodies - bags created for women who want all the practicality and safety features without compromising in style. Shop ArdenCove.com.
Hi Jeannie, Thank you for your kind comment! It really makes our day to hear from you <3 Please take care & stay safe!
Hi Rebecca! That’s hilarious! I’m glad you are having a good time. I’ll check out your suggestions :) Stay Safe!
Thank you so very much for making a wonderful bag. I always feel safe wearing it!
Yours truly,
Jeannie Wasaff
Thanks for the suggestions. With my love of languages. I have been watching Netflix mainly Asian genre. Have learned a bit of Korean plus as a substitute teacher that I now cant do thanks to the Covid 19. It is super handy when you need to vent and no one (espeically the kids) have any idea you just cussed in Korean. I personally love the K2, Vagabond, A Korean odyssey and the Bride of Habaek. Plus having good eye candy is an extra added bonus. Hope everyone is staying safe.
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