“We met locals who told us: “Come with us”. They knew of a dam on the river,” Mr Creery said. “So we drove past big “Verboten” signs, carrying our bikes over barbed wire, but what are you going to do? We arrived where we needed to go.
New bike lanes and dedicated bike lanes on streets in many parts of Europe, Australia, Japan and elsewhere are encouraging tourists to cycle. And whether biking, walking or running, getting out of a vehicle always offers the best view, according to Ms. Dresser, the film's producer, who travels frequently for work and pleasure. “You're going to see a lot more and you're connecting with people,” she said. “You feel the place a lot more.”
Attend religious services
Cultural values are easily emphasized in religious communities, and travelers who are respectful, curious, dress modestly, and forgo photography are often invited to visit them. Gary Bartelings, a Dutch travel specialist who organizes luxury tours, was among a group of travel professionals invited by Omani tourism officials to visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat. During their visit, they met with Omani women who spoke about the perception of Islam outside the Muslim world. Mr Bartelings said he found the meeting extremely powerful.
One of us (Christine) had a similar experience in 2006 in Damascus, the Syrian capital: as I was packing for a month of Arabic lessons, I included a hymn from my home church as a gift to the Orthodox Christian congregation I planned to worship with. . After presenting it to the organist, a faithful invited me to his home for lunch. This proved to be a good opportunity to practice my Arabic and learn how Christians live in a predominantly Muslim country.
A spiritual leader, religious school, or seminary can help you find a place to worship or ask someone you've met if you can attend a service with them. The BBC has prepared a list of GPs etiquette rules for a number of different religions.
Choose time and location
A popular destination at the height of tourist season is not the ideal place to find artisans willing to quietly discuss their craft. A small-town cheesemaker, however, might be happy to show visitors around, as Greg Witt of Utah-based travel agency Alpenwild said he has learned from major European tours for nearly 40 years . He took hikers to the high meadows of the Alps where farmers graze their cows in summer.
