In this digital era, it seems so easy to discover everything just through a mouse click. At some point, the internet connects us as a whole: we have chances to talk with people on another side of the planet without knowing them before. At another point, it could distract us from seeing some presenting values that we could get without having smart devices nearby. The last 2 days spent in the Latvian countryside with unstable internet have given me some more space to utilize all the senses and immerse myself into the countryside lifestyle. Experience as a tourist to some nature destinations, I was greatly amazed. Here are 4 things that I find impressive when experiencing nature-based tourism in the Tukums region.
1. Unavailable internet
I was born in a countryside region in Vietnam and the internet was not that widely recognized back then. However, my growing-up process sticks constantly with smart devices. I’m quite active on social media, and it is easy for me to check news from those platforms every 5 minutes. By the time I reached Tukums, my 4G did not work and wifi was not available. I was restless for a while. But the gift I received after that was indescribable.
Instead of staring at my phone, my focus was shifting to the surrounding nature and its beauty. I put more concentration on the guiding speech, joked around with my friends, observed and let my thinking flow going around. Turns out, without having internet, I could have done lots of interesting things without feeling bored. All of my senses were involved. I felt peace. And I considered it as a way of escaping, which is not happening to me quite often.
2. Untouched nature
Before coming to Tukums, I did some pre-research about the place and found some pictures. However, due the the changed plan, we visited some different destinations and it turned out amazing. Most of the scenery is untouched or less interfered with human work. Nature is wild, beautiful, and touching.
3. Authentic experience
One of the best things about the countryside is its authenticity. Due to the small scale and a certain amount of guests, tourists are able to experience nature and rural lifestyle without that much impact from the mass tourism industry. From the barefoot experience to making handicrafts, they are all present the lifestyle that people in the old times had lived. Especially, those experience is not easily sought out in some mass industry, which makes nature-based tourism in Tukums regions become so special.
4. Further thinking
The interesting part of this trip might be the post-experience it brings. Days spent in the countryside triggered in me many thoughts that I did not expect them to come. I started being more curious about the old times and their lifestyle; how different it could be in the countryside in different regions; how to communicate all these timeless values to young people in such a busy society like nowadays, and so many more.
I suppose that is one of the best experiences that traveling should bring to tourists. Traveling does not simply stop at moving to a different place and see how it is, but it is also a journey of thinking, learning, reflecting, hence, enriching our life experience and making life a memorable journey!
Some more words: Despite having not much expectation before, this time visiting Tukums still surprised me quite a lot. Compared to the pre-experience, the on-site experience is going far better in my imagination. Thanks to all of those who were involved in creating this trip. It was fun, memorable, useful, and beneficial for my study and even my lifelong journey! Thank you so much!
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My pre-experience can be reached in this post.
Also, if you are interested in the Tukums region itself, here is the website of things to do in Tukums region.
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