原文: 10 Ways To Avoid Getting Lost In A New City

You just landed in a foreign country after a 57 1/2 hour flight from Des Moines.

You’re tired. You’re hungry. You’re jet-lagged.

You manage to get through immigration and schlep your bags onto the metro. You emerge from the bowels of the subway into the blinding sunlight…and realize you have no idea where you are.

Sound familiar? Getting lost in a foreign city happens to the best of us, the rest of us, and the most seasoned of travelers.

We all get disoriented sometimes.What do you do when you don’t know where you are?

1. Don’t panic

First of all, you are in a city, not an Amazonian jungle. There is food and shelter (and probably a McDonalds) on every corner. Relax. Everything is going to turn out just fine.

2. Ask the locals

Not only are people almost always willing to help, asking for directions gives you a great excuse to talk to folks if you are feeling lonely.

If you’re female and feeling a bit scared, perhaps ask a local woman. This is a good way to practice your foreign language skills anyway (always learn the most important words: ‘thank you,’ ‘hello’, ‘excuse me’).

Don’t worry about a language barrier. If you are reading this article, you are fortunate enough to know a language that is spoken all over the world, and a smile is universal.

3. Look for big landmarks

In cities like Chicago, New York, and Paris there are some pretty tall, famous buildings usually visible no matter where you stand that can help you get your bearings.

Even the roughest New Yorkers sometimes emerge from the subway and need to find the Empire State Building so that they can orientate themselves and continue to the Carnegie Deli.

4. Pack a compass

Break out your trusty old compass, or go old school and seek out the sun. No matter where you are in the world, the sun will always set in the west (I’m making the assumption you aren’t lost at the North or South Pole).

If you know the general layout of the city, you can walk until you reach a river, park or major avenue.

5. Check out the tourist information office

Even if you’re not lost (yet) drop by this helpful place, if for no other reason than to get a good map. These goldmines of free maps and advice are typically located in airports and in train and bus stations.

6. Prepare in advance

If you are staying at a hotel that was recommended by your guidebook, there is often a city map in the book with the hotels marked on it.

While you are biding your time on the 10 hour train, bus, or airplane ride to your next destination, see where your lodging is on the map in relation to where you are coming into town and make a plan on how you will get from point A to point B.

7. Grab a business card

When you first check into your hostel or hotel, always take a business card (so you have the address and phone number with you at all times—to show taxi drivers, etc.) and also find the hotel on your map and mark it.

8. Retrace your steps

Always make a mental note of landmarks as you pass them, so that you can retrace your steps later if necessary.

9. Find a local pub or bar

Sit down. Take a load off. Have a drink. Repeat. You will start to feel better, I promise. And of course, you can then ask the bartender or friendly local next to you for some help.

10. Stay lost

You’re traveling! You’re in a city! How lost can you really be? Open yourself to serendipity and just wander around, taking in the sights and soaking up the vibe of the new place.

One of the best things about travel is embracing the unexpected, and being ‘lost’ is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, in most cases losing your bearings leads to a fun adventure.

Imagine you’re a contestant on the Amazing Race, even though there’s no prize money at the end.

Some final thoughts…

Figuring out a new city, its infrastructure, its transportation options, and its layout can sometimes be frustrating, but also quite rewarding once you master the system.

I always feel like entering a new country presents a fun, new challenge and if you can find your way in a place like Hanoi…well, you will feel like you can do just about anything.

译文: 避免在陌生城市迷路的10种方法

     无论对于我们自己还是经验丰富的旅游爱好者，在国外的陌生城市迷路是很有可能发生的事情。

     当你经过57.5个小时的航行从得梅因来到一个陌生的国家时,会感到自己身心处于疲惫、饥饿、时差混乱的状态。你设法携带包裹去乘坐地铁，从地铁站内出来，进入炫目的阳光之下,你会突然发现不知道自己身处何地.

     听起来不是很陌生吧?无论对于我们自己还是经验丰富的旅游爱好者，在国外的陌生城市迷路是很有可能发生的事情。

     我们大家有时会迷失方向，不知道自己在那。这时我们应该怎么做呢？

1、保持镇定

    首先，要认识到自己不是处于环境恶劣的亚马逊热带丛林，而是文明的城市之中，那里随处有食物和住所。放松心情，一切都会好起来的。

2、求助当地居民

    不是所有的人都愿意寻求别人的帮助的,对于那些性格内向的人来说,他们会为避免问路可能会收到指责而不去寻求别人的帮助.

    如果你是位女性并且因迷路感到恐慌时,或许你可以寻求当地的妇女来得到帮助.运用你的所有的外语技能(经常用到的一些重要词句:'thank you,’ ‘hello’, 'excuse me')是一个很好的途径.不要担心语言障碍.如果你
读过这篇文章,你将是非常幸运的.因为你知道了微笑是世界通用的表述语言.

3、寻找醒目的路标

    在芝加哥、纽约、巴黎这样的大都市里,无论你站在那里都会看到许多非常著名的雄伟建筑,它们会帮助你确定自己目前所在的位置.

    即使一些粗心的纽约市民从地铁站出来时,有时候需要寻找帝国大厦来确定去the Carnegie Deli的方向.

4、携带指南针

    拿出你信赖的陈旧的指南针,或者用老办法找到太阳.无论你处在地球的任何位置,太阳永远是从西方升起(我是在假设你在南波兰或者北波兰没有迷路).

    如果你了解所在城市的大致规划布局,你可以一直步行直到到达河流,公园或者城市主干道.  

5、询问旅游信息处

    即使你从旅游信息处得到帮助而没有迷路,你也必须有一张详尽的地图.在机场,火车站和汽车站布置一些免费的地图资源和建议是当地的特色.

6、做好充分准备

    如果你准备住在导游手册推荐的酒店,通常导游手册会附带一张标记有本酒店位置的地图.

    当你需要10小时来等待火车,汽车或者飞机到达下一个目的地时,你可以利用这段时间来查看地图确定你在下一个城市的住所位置和制定一个从A地道B地的路线计划.

7、索取名片

    当你第一次入住客栈或者酒店时,首先要向服务人员索取名片(这样你会一直拥有酒店的地址和电话号码---可以出示给出租车司机,等等)或者从地图上找到酒店所在的位置并标记出来.

8、原路返回

    留意你所经过的路标,以便你在需要的时候可以原路返回.

9、找一个当地的客栈或者酒吧

    坐下来,喝点酒.我保证你会感到好一点.当然你也可以向酒吧服务生或者挨着的友好的当地人寻求帮助.

10、一直迷路下去

    你正在旅行!你在一座陌生的城市!怎样才能真正的使你迷路?放开自己的心情,四处漫步,尽情享受和吸收这个陌生地方的美丽景色和新鲜空气. 

    对于旅游来说最好的事情就是充满意外和惊喜,"迷路"未必是件坏事.实际上,迷路会引导你开始一趟奇妙的冒险之旅.

    假设自己是一名短跑运动员,即使终点没有任何奖赏.

总结

     认识一座新的城市---基础结构,交通方式和基本布局是非常困难的,但是对于这座城市的主人来说却是一件十分有益的事情.

    我喜欢记录一些新的国家的有趣的人和事,迎接新的挑战.如果你能在河内这样的城市找到属于自己挑战,那你就可以去做任何自己觉得有价值的事情.