Once a Twirista, Always a #Twirista

Sharing my travel agency work experience and some travel stuff.

Destinations.

Tourist spots.

Food.

Culture.

The Travel Experience.

These are the quaranthoughts I've often reminisced about, browsing through photograph albums and recalling notable travels and past work life.

~From turista to TWIrista~

As a tourist or turista, what I enjoy most about traveling is the guarantee of acquiring newfound knowledge throughout the trip and the stories to share when you get back. Traveling for me recharges the creative spirit and augments life experienced through various lenses.

Travel Q&A: What type of tourist are you?

What's your travel style?
What are your top 5 travel essentials?
Who is your dream travel buddy?
What's your ideal itinerary like? Do you meticulously plan your trip or decide to go wherever and spontaneously plan then?
Would you rather do a budget trip or splurge on a dream destination?

I figured out what my travel preferences were and discovered more about myself, others, and the world as I went on more trips. These views and tendencies especially shifted when I worked for a travel agency, understanding more about the travel experience and the inner workings of the travel industry.

TWIrista \tu-wee-ris-ta\ (n.) a person who chooses the Travel Warehouse Inc. experience

Working in Travel Warehouse Inc. for two years, I've learned from pre-departure briefings, client tours, airport assists, travel expos, product briefings, the meticulous task of booking and coordinating with travel service providers and clients, and familiarization tours.

In the agency's marketing department, I was able to explore and pitch ideas -- creating and developing the TWIrista brand; and contributing to the company's CSR Fly & Share project, digital platform assets, and team activities.

Shared responsibility of a turista and TWIrista

Perhaps being a tourist and working as a TWIrista enabled me to find a deeper appreciation for travel, food, and culture; and the people who worked behind the scenes to contribute to a tourist's experience.

I think it's our shared responsibility to always practice proper etiquette wherever we go to show our respect to the locals and tourists alike and preserve a sought-after experience.

After all, it is a privilege to travel.

~Some travel stuff~

Packing Essentials

What I've learned from past travels and through work ( I think this is an essential life skill ) is to pack light. Read through my travel packing tips in the blog post Lightweight.

Recommendations

For a time, I had the travel blues. Apart from browsing through albums, I watched the following series and shows to bring me back to the travel experience.

Twogether

The concept of Twogether being a travel and variety show highlights the time when we can travel freely.

It reminded me of our itineraries, travel pacing, per diem allowance, and a 2017 Osaka Anniversary Trip.

Where Stars Land

Although it is dramatized, the storyline is based on the nature of a travel industry job.

Some scenarios on customer and crisis management brought me back to past experiences in the agency.

Master In The House (Jipsabu)

As it is a variety show, often the Jipsabu hosts traveled to visit their master for a day or two.

Episodes that featured places in Korea and abroad made me reflect on my next travel goals and bucket list.

I hope this blog post brought you good memories, a few activity ideas, and something to look forward to after the pandemic. For now, you can do a 10-day travel photo challenge, watch some shows, and plan your next trip. :)

Where do you plan to head next, #twirista?