qualities of a good traveller...

Traveling to different countries around the world really is a good experience for the cultural exchange. To overcome some obstacles you should have a great health, to know a couple of international languages (english + another one), to know how to build a fire (just in case the country you are visiting is more wild) and to have a map or something regarding that place.

A good traveler has very much patience and lots of respect for the local people. He or she will be polite, care for the environment by not droping rubbish and wear clothes that are suitable for the country they are visiting. For example in Israel beach wear is fine but in Jordan it is necessary to cover up leaving just the face and hands. Language is easier to master in some countries than others, like Romanian looks fine to try but Bulgaran looks difficult to learn. A traveler should have some understanding of the religion and respect the local people's customs. He or she should be sensible around native wildlife.

Nothing gives knowledge like travelling. Though the travellor cannot understand the local language, he can convey and receive the messages through sign language. Good travellor will keep on moving from place to place and will get adjusted to the local food and people.

My job makes me travel a lot, mainly business but I usually mixed it up with leisure so I get to see a different world apart from the one I know. I have lived temporarily in countries where it only took a plane ticket to make me feel illiterate, and not being able to follow conversations, worse - not being able to be understood. There were times I remember when on my first days in Vietnam, I have to draw to buy something, not that I am great at drawing - thanks to my arts school teacher, but it was the best way I found that seem to work. Experience is a great teacher though and has taught me a lot. I think the qualities of a good traveller is patience, sometimes we experience flight delays, things go wrong, not being understood, etc. and you have to be patient. You have to be open minded, coz there will always be things that you see different from back home. Peoples habits, expressions, food, getting where you want to go and many other things. Sometimes, situations doesn't even give you much options. Also you need to research the place where you are going, gather information about people, the place, food, etc, so you know what to take with you. There was a story in the Maldives where I am now, that there was a traveller who ask about the drinking water in the Maldives and he was told that drinking water is very expensive here so the traveller brought with him in his luggage a lot of evian water and paid excess of 300 USD..basically he paid more than the cost of the water bottles, only to find that the resort where he is going has their own reverse osmosis and the water is potable. Be friendly and respectful of people, as this will really help you, when you travel especially when you are alone, you basically need help, the best thing to do is to make friends. The best way to know a country or a culture is to know one from the place.