YD: I love the question. There’s a lot to unpack, especially when you consider that in large cities people have stopped talking and interacted with each because they are looking for the perfect place to escape.
I do think it is good to have a pocket sometimes, but nothing can replace the one you find in your everyday life. In Chicago, where I live, there is a lot of noise. But I live near a lake. So I go there for a short time and then come back to the noisy part of the city.
Arati, I also wanted to comment on a statement you made, because I believe we are becoming more… We become more aware of sounds in the environment the more we visit these quiet and silent areas. Even this morning, as I walked my dog, it was noisy. The cars honked, etc., but I could hear birds singing. I made a mental note of it, “Oh there are birds here.” “How incredible.” It was amazing. I listened and paid attention and felt a bit of the balming effects even though I am still in a loud place. While walking my dog, I am picking up on those beautiful sounds and feeling their effect.
As you spend more time in places such as this, you will become more aware.
AM: You mentioned the sound of birds and it brought me back to a conversation I had with Gordon. He was describing quiet places and the sounds that you can hear. “You know what I call sound of prosperity?” he asked. I was like, What’s that? He was like “Well, I’ll give it away …”. I was like “Come on! You’ve got tell me.” He’s like, “Birdsong. Birdsong is a sound of prosperity. It is the sound of living. It’s that sound, the fact that air, food, water, shelter, and other essentials are available to them, which is a sign of our success.
The sound of birdsong can be soothing even in the middle of a busy city.
LA: Arati. Yulia: Thank you so much for your stories. I also appreciate you sharing some of your quiet spots, which, as you know, you might have been reluctant to reveal at certain times.
AM: You could be right.
LA: We hope that anyone visiting will respect this quiet. What should they do if they want to keep up with your adventures, hear your stories, and find Arati?
AM: You can find my Instagram account. It’s @aratimenonYou can see our list of quiet spots on cntraveler.com, as they happen. Search for quiet places in the world.
LA: Where can you be found on the Internet?
YD: You can find me at Instagram @insearchofperfect. We travel to many places in the world. There are quiet and wonderful places. We’re here goingplacesmedia.com.
LA: Perfect. It’s amazing how much we can fit into a single picture. This was absolutely amazing. It was a great experience.
Women Who Travel appreciates your listening. Lale Arikoglu is my Instagram handle. @lalehannah. Jake Lummus is our engineer. Amar Lal from Macro Sound mixes our show. Jude Kampfner is our producer, Stephanie Kariuki our executive producer, and Chris Bannon is head of Condé Nast global audio.
