Enjoy the experience by being in the moment!

My chief tip for long term travel: enjoy the experience by being in the moment!

Throw away the camera for one trip. Leave your phone at home. Today on the South Island of New Zealand, maybe the most gorgeous place on earth, I saw people staring mindlessly at their phones or snapping pics endlessly for uploading.

I do get being plugged in and sharing your travels but being in the moment, totally focused on the beauty around you, is the best way to really dig your long term travels. This is also how to feel like a local in places, where spending 2 or 4 months in a spot helps you make friends, and to fully experience a place as a native does.