Photo By Doc Searls
“Turn up, the radio,” Autograph sang back in the 80′s when I was growing up, assuming I’m now all grown up. And while I’ve listened to my fair share of loud music driving around my hometown, it wasn’t until I started traveling further and further from home that I realized the social benefit of keeping the radio tuned in while on the road.
This idea is in partial conflict to my recent post asking “Is It A Sin To Wear Headphones While Traveling?“ The comments in that article point to the many social benefits of keeping headphones off while traveling in order to take in the local culture. Many state that something is lost when one of our senses is cut off in a foreign land, while admitting sometimes we all need an escape from the onslaught of constant new input.
While that article was focused on personal headphone use, it was on a recent trip to Australia when I was struck by what I saw as an immense benefit to keeping a radio on while in a vehicle. I’m talking here about a rental car or, in my case, a rental campervan. I was spending six days driving over 1300km around the wonderful mountainous countryside of New South Wales, solo. While I would stopped and chatted with locals while enjoying a meal, fueling up the campervan or receiving a haircut, I had a lot of time behind the wheel to myself. And the radio, gasp!, had no input for my iPod.
So I listened to the local radio. A lot. I found out there was a large concern about swine flu in Melbourne, Parliament was all in a tizzy and most importantly, what the weather would be like for the next few days. While the specifics change with time, the habit is something I’ve begun ingraining in my travel routine. Listening to the local radio helped me stay informed about both country-wide issues and local activities. I got a taste of music I rarely hear. It also fed me content to make a conversation easier to start with local Australians.
I write this post on my way to Hawaii and look forward to meeting locals and chatting. But I also look forward to my time behind the wheel between activities. It’s a chance to hear another point of view about what’s happening across the islands. And sink a little further into local culture before flying home.
What about you? Do you make an effort to tune into local radio, either in a car or elsewhere, while traveling? If you do, have you ever found it especially useful?
I hardly listen to the radio at all any more. I am not just a podcast producer but a podcast junkie.
I try to avoid listening to the radio because it’s a distraction to everything around me .. I don’t want to miss out on the real world.
i like to listen to the radio in different places, esp on long car trips when we’re sick of our cds and ipods….you’re right – it gives a local flavor!