High Contrast Experiences

Today while doing my sleuthing around the web to learn about the travel industry, I came upon the Transformational Travel Council. I’m watching a free course where they outline what transformational travel is, and they are putting words to what I want to provide in my business. It feels good to know that there are people out there doing this work to encourage people to travel in a transformative way. I hope to continue to learn from them, but here are a few takeaways.

First is the concept of high contrast experiences. I learned that “a high contrast experience is when travelers experience things that differ dramatically from their daily life. When we have an experience that takes us far away from our status quo, we begin to reshape what we see as possible or real or valuable.” When I reflect on my memories of travel, the high contrast experiences always stand out. One of my high contrast experiences was seeing people worshipping in Hindu temples, when I had only been raised in Christian churches. Another one was befriending a South Korean woman, and she held my hand as we walked down the street, which is a symbol of closeness and friendship, when I was taught it was only for lesbians. Have you had high contrast experiences?

Second, a quote from Helen Abramson, who works with Rough Guides. "Ask yourself what you want to get out of the experience - is it just to see people, or to meet them? To take something from them, or to share something with them?”