'SLOMO'
why you should travel
in slow motion
With the UK set to lift its ban on non-essential travel on up to 90 countries on Monday 6th July – for the first time since late February – travel seems like a real possibility again.
Today, Saturday 4th July, sees many embrace the long-anticipated freedom to leave the house as pubs, restaurants, places of worship, hairdressers and hotels re-open. That being said, COVID-19 has given us all time to reflect on life – including how we’d like to travel in the future.
At Travelling Whale, we love inspiring sustainable and responsible travel.
Which is why we believe in SLOMO – the sustainable travel trend telling us to travel in slow motion.
WHAT IS SLOW MOTION TRAVEL?
Ever returned home from a holiday more exhausted than when you actually left? Used to cramming in as much action-packed adventure as possible into your already-too-short holiday? Yep, us too!
Say hello to SLOMO (slow motion travel): the authentic, eco-friendly and culturally enriching travel trend that’ll have you returning to work in a blissful state of relaxation – rather than with scrambled brains, dark eye circles, and a still unpacked suitcase. Desperately craving some me time to relax and recharge.
Slow motion travel, known as SLOMO, encourages us to take our time, be mindful of our surroundings, minimise our carbon footprint, immerse ourselves in the local way of life – and importantly – savour each second.
SLOMO IS THE NEW FOMO
Forget flying through 10 cities in 2 weeks with an Instagram feed to match. It’s time to trade fast flights and frenetic list-ticking for a more measured trip that understands and connects with the culture, community, and customs of a travel destination.
FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) runs riot in our digital world – with travellers flocking to social media to post jealously-inspiring evidence of their adventures. SLOMO switches it up. Forget your phone. Forget Instagram. Forget skimming the surface – we’re digging deeper and connecting to the soul of a destination by caring about its history, food, people, traditions, wildlife, language. You name it.
HOW CAN I TRAVEL SLOMO?
SLOMO champions slower, more sustainable transport forms. Forget flying and think walking, biking, trekking, canoe cruising, and reflective train rides. Take a moment to exhale; and cherish the beauty of travel. Listen to your favourite tune and gaze at the rolling scenery out the window.
SLOMO inspires us to contribute to local businesses and communities, and to learn and partake in local traditions. Choose local lodges and home-stays over hotels, and local eateries over Western food chains; interact with people (even just in gestures!) – and remember to stay off the beaten track away from crowded picture-snapping ‘touristy’ areas. Roam unfamiliar streets. Wake up and taste the local coffee.
Don’t worry. This is not an impossible-to-achieve hippy fad. Just enjoying a locally produced coffee and reflecting on the day gone is vintage SLOMO!
WHERE SHOULD I TRAVEL SLOMO?
CENTRAL ASIA
Central Asia is paradise for SLOMO-ers. Stretching over 1,545,741 square miles, the former Soviet Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are packed full of mind-boggling beauty that offers endless scope for exploration and adventure.
We encourage you to walk or cycle down some of the historic Silk Road. As the main pathway of ancient trade (from 130 BCE to 1453 CE), along here silks, dyes, gunpowder, slaves, camels, dogs, weapons, armour, textiles and other goods were transported between East and West.
Alternatively, embark on an idyllic drive down the Pamir Highway to soak up spectacular sightings of priceless Pamir mountain scenery that touches parts of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Krgyzstan. Likewise, a hike up Tajikistan’s Fann mountains or through Bartang valleys tosses you into the heart of wild and authentic natural beauty. Perhaps spend the night in an eco-friendly traditional yurt in Uzbekistan’s Kyzylkum Desert or by the stunning Song Kol Lake.
Stay in local villages or traditional yurts. Speak to locals. Walk until your legs grow tired. Admire the 113-mile long Issyk Kul lake glistening under the immense Tian Shan mountain range; its name translates to ‘Mountains of Heaven’ for a reason!
Central Asia is best valued in your own (and slow!) time. And for a taste of East Asia, see our Mongolia blog.
EUROPE
Gone are the days of scoring another city on our Interrail Passes almost as frequently as eating a proper meal. In contrast, slow travel lets travellers truly explore Europe – like it deserves to be explored. Set aside some extra time to immerse yourself culturally and geographically. Plan some free days’ and see where your curiosity takes you. Tread the historic streets of Paris, Greece, Croatia, Georgia, Austria, Prague, Spain, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Belgium, Slovenia and more. Travel SLOMO!
MOROCCO
Unwind with a leisurely roam around Morocco. With its charming cafes, marvellous mosques, captivating cuisine, gorgeous gardens, breath-taking beaches and stunning Saharan sand dunes – Morocco is superb for SLOMO. Contribute to local businesses and craftsmen with a saunter round the souks – picking out tagine pots, colourful carpets and countless spices. Meander through the winding streets before slipping away for a delicious local orange juice, bowl of couscous, hearty tagine or Moroccan Chicken Bastilla. Explore the Sahara on camel-back before sleeping under a mesmerising blanket of stars. Make every second count on a SLOMO trip to Morocco.
TURKEY
With fascinating food, gorgeous geography and a genuinely cool feel – Turkey is a real hotspot for SLOMO-ers. Travellers should say yes to a dip in Pamukkale’s thermal hot springs; a wallow in the therapeutic moisturising muds of the Koycegiz’s local mud baths, or a swim in Oludeniz’ blissful Blue Lagoon. A diverse range of authentic shops offer take-home treats like intricately crafted Turkish jewellery, ceramic plates or beautiful backgammon sets. The underground churches of Cappadocia present explorers with sensational frescoes to decipher. And the cuisine of traditional Turkish coffee, mouth-watering meze and Shish Kebab submerges you into the beating heart of the culture while sending your taste buds into overdrive. Why not sleep in a teepee in Farayla and soak in panoramic views of the Mediterranean below? You’ll forget you ever had a work phone. Trust me.
LAOS
Touching down in Laos is like landing on another planet. Nature glows in a vibrant green powerful enough to make your eyes sore. Here, life ticks away unhurried. Locals rise slowly, surfacing at around 10am; making tranquil, empty streets characteristic of early mornings! With plenty of coaches available for travellers, it’s a great, sustainable SLOMO destination.
Rooted in Buddhism and with a wretched history of war violence – making it the most bombed country per capita in history due to the Cold War – there is so much to learn in Laos. Pop into Vientiane’s COPE Centre: a war museum and organisation that works with victims of exploded bombs and mines. Rewind the clock with a look around the Tham Jang caves that locals used to shelter in during the late-19th-century Chinese invasions.
Head over to Luang Prabang’s Living Land Farm to discover how rice is planted and cultivated in a local rice paddy field. Get up close with seemingly age-less local farmers and water buffalo. Browse fascinating fabrics at mystical markets. Or adventure through Vang Vieng’s lush green landscapes, crystal-clear waters and limestone caves.
Time stands still in this garden-of-Eden like paradise of a country. We recommend you explore!
by Ollie Poole
Freelance travel & culture writer
