To me, a better traveller is curious about the place, the people in that location and cares about what kind of impact is left behind by the visit. It could be leaving behind a clean room, not touching/stepping on monuments in order to get a perfect shot, packing extras from dinner for breakfast the next day and having a conversation with a local. I also think that a better traveller can start from home, we don't have to wait till we travel to be a better traveller. Plenty to explore at home too

it sounds like you've got some awareness of such practices, the next thing i'd suggest is to do a lot of reading up about the organisation that you would like to volunteer with. Ask them questions about their impact and their operations to get a sense about how genuine they are in supporting the cause. And then ask the locals when you are there. nothing beats local insights.

@mysticempressa Thanks for the suggestion, Veena! Thanks too for the work that you do for CAL's C2C training programme and how CAL is supporting caregivers in Singapore.

I recently read "An Unquiet Mind" by Kay Redfield Jamison. She is a Professor of Psychiatry and also has bipolar disorder (manic depression). She examines manic depression as both a doctor and patient, very interesting and eye-opening account.

Movies and videos! This was one of the first videos that gave me more insight into depression: 'I had a black dog' https://youtu.be/XiCrniLQGYc . And movies are a good starting point to understanding the topic a little more, e.g. Silver Linings Playbook , A Star is Born, even Girl, Interrupted (yes this is a very old show).

I have friends who have depression. It was difficult to understand that feeling of being unable to get out of the bed to function. I also struggle with saying the right words. But over time, I realised that listening without judgement and being curious to ask them about the condition or treatment is better than just assuming or avoiding the topic.

I think flexible arrangements is the keyword for structural changes. Flexibility in including mental wellness/treatment related expenses to be included in employee benefits. Flexibility in work timing and locations. Empathy will be mykeyword for team dynamics. Understanding the teammate, providing that little extra care in the choice of words at workplace and a listening ear will help.

To me, a better traveller is curious about the place, the people in that location and cares about what kind of impact is left behind by the visit. It could be leaving behind a clean room, not touching/stepping on monuments in order to get a perfect shot, packing extras from dinner for breakfast the next day and having a conversation with a local. I also think that a better traveller can start from home, we don't have to wait till we travel to be a better traveller. Plenty to explore at home too

@Lin-Yanqin Thanks! I'll bear this in mind when considering whether i hire a car or take the train .

Is traveling by train more environmental friendly than by car? or is it the other way round?

Has anyone seen such little free libraries like this anywhere in Asia? Thought its a great idea and eco-friendly for book lovers too!!

personally i think it's ok, i've visited minority communities in China and tourism has become their key source of income. without that income, they'll be working in cities or factories and the culture will be lost. But instead of participating in put up shows for tourists, i recommend seeking out experiences where you get to interact with the locals and learn about their culture from them. I usually seek out a friendly elderly to ask questions and they're always happy to share some nuggets of information.