Travel has been an integral part of my life since I was little, although I have at times been forced to say that I wanted to go on a trip but could not due to a lack of monetary resources and time. But I also remember sitting and pondering about how to make use of the available resources like books, movies, music, and the internet to ‘travel’ in my imagination to different places, geographically and culturally, with the possibility of enjoying a wide variety of foods.
 Based on these experiences, I invented a way to undertake virtual travel that showcases marvelous places in the universe while allowing us to stay indoors. Let’s embark on this virtual travel journey together!

Visual Tours and Museums

Certainly, one of the best things about virtual travel is that you get to access not only famous Museums but also renowned sites from all over the world within the comforts of your own home. Here are a few highlights:

The Louvre, Paris:  Take a virtual tour of the louvre and explore its vast collections of arts including the famous Mona Lisa. Feel free to navigate through different galleries and learn about history behind each piece.

The British Museum, London: This museum offers virtual tours of its exhibits, including the Rosetta Stone and the Egyptian mummies. The images give you a detailed description that makes you feel you are walking through the Museum in person.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C.: Over here, one can explore the wonders of nature with virtual tours. From dinosaur fossil to the Hope Diamond etc. There is so much to see and learn here as well.


Books and Movies

Books and movies have the power to relocate to different locations and times.
Here are some recommendations:

Books:

 “Eat,Play,Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert. This author will lead you through Italy, India and Indonesia as she seeks self -discovery and healing.

“The Alchemist by Paulo Coello: this philophical novel takes you on a journey through the deserts of Egypt, exploring themes of destiny and personal legends.


Movies:

“The secret life of Walter Mitty”- Follows adventures of a day dreamer who embark on a global journey, with stunning visuals from Iceland, Greenland and the Himalayas. 

“Into the Wild”- This movie is based on true story, this movie details the travels of Christopher McCandless across North America, going through to Alaska Wilderness.


Food And Languages

Experiencing other culture is through their foods. Traveling around the world gathering recipes and trying out different dishes is a delightful way to travel from home. 
Here are some dishes to try:

Italian Pasta Carbonara: An ancient Roman dish made with eggs, cheese, pancetta and pepper. This cuisine is simple to make yet delicious and healthy.

Japanese Sushi Rolls: Making Sushi at home can be fun activity. All you need is your cucumber, fresh fish and avocado and you are good to prepare this stress-free dish. 

Learning a new language can enhance your virtual travel experience and also prepare you for future trips. Some helpful tools include:


Duolingo: A free app that offers courses in multiple languages with fun and easy to understand and also interact.

Rosetta Stone: this is also known for its massive approach to learn a new language through real-life scenarios and conversations. 


Connecting with People
The internet has made virtual travelling an easy way to connect with different people across the globe. Here are some ways to connect with others:

Online Global Communities: Joining travel forums and social media groups where people share their travel experiences and tips. Websites such as Reddit and Facebook can really be of help. 

language exchange programs: Joining websites like Tandem and Hello-talk can help you to connect with its native speakers who wants to learn new languages online. 

Conclusion 

Virtual traveling can be fun and also enriching experience. It allows us to explore new places, learn different cultures, languages, food etc. across the world. While nothing can replace the thrill or actual travel, virtual travel is a wonderful way to satisfy our wanderlust and prepare for the future adventures.