Nugget #1: Traveling with Friends

Traveling has always been a way for me to recharge my batteries and keep my mind busy. Learning the local etiquette, selecting the key places to see, practicing greeting lines in front of a mirror...all these little things satisfy my cravings for new learnings.

While I usually travel by myself, I find that sharing adventures with friends every once in a while creates very special memories.

From earthquakes and "surprise" martial arts sessions in Korea to driving through a burning forest in Sicily, there is a not a single moment that does not qualify for the term "nugget". These nuggets cement friendships and fill your heart with joy when your friends are far away. Bring them up during a conversation, and see how the room warms up as you go through your shared memories.

There are a few rules to remember if you want your trip to be memorable:

1) Always make sure you and your travel buddy knows how you "work". If they like to sleep in and you like to be ready to roll at 6am, you really want to get it out of the way quickly!

2) Give each other time to do some research. Joining efforts not only makes the trip more "personal", it also makes everyone feel like they contribute to its success. I took my nephew to Lisbon for his birthday, and his list of recommended places proved to be incredible. I ditched my own list after heading to an initiation well with him!

3) Safety first! While it is fun to "go with the flow", make sure you have a plan B in case, well...your host's house is damaged by a brutal flood (for example).

4) Accept that things will most probably not go your way. Your vision of the trip and the end result can be total opposites. I once took a friend to a supposedly amazing archaeological digsite, only to arrive and see 3 stones on the ground. The 15 minutes of hilarity that followed still make it one of my favorites to this day!

5) Enjoy the moment. It is tempting to shoot everything you see with your camera, from a grilled guinea pig to fireworks over a temple, but remember to live in the moment. A picture will not replace the combination of smells, the excitement, the visual appeal of a tasty dish. It will not capture the breeze on your face, the sounds around you as you and your friend watch a parade...Print all these sensations in your mind before you take a picture.

6) Have the time of your life! This is your moment, that special chunk of time you will not have with anyone else. A nugget to cherish as it becomes one of the many bricks that build who you are.