Everything is the same. What happened to being different?
Take a look at the images below. They will all be familiar to you. If not the brand, but as food items, or shops.
These photos have been taken over a 5 year period. In the UK, Dubai, South Africa, Canada, Egypt and Germany. Later on this year I will be visiting Australia and will be no doubt having similar observations to you.
Nothing is different.
Everything is the same.
Is that Waitrose in the UK? and Tesco? of course, they're British companies. Think again. The Waitrose is in Dubai.
Halloween and Christmas images, can't be Dubai, can it? Yes it's Dubai.
Foreign food aisles. When you leave the UK everything is foreign food isn't it?
Tim Hortons? Easy in Canada - Dubai
Red bus? Must be London - Canada
Wimpy? That's South Africa surely - Canada
Large Malls? Again has to be Dubai - Canada
Apart from buildings, landscapes, currencies, languages and accents, there is little different to see around the world outside of the tourist areas. Yes there's game drives in South Africa, the Niagara Falls in Canada, historical buildings, castles to explore in the UK and Germany.
But outside of that, there is fuel to put in the car, coffee to be drunk, food shopping to be done, clothes to be purchased.
I remember as a teen going into H&M, it was in France, it was glamourous. Visiting a foreign supermarket and trying all the different foods. Having a special treat by visiting a coffee shop.
But now everything is everywhere, you can buy anything wherever you go and if you can't buy it, you can order it online.
The magic of travel for me is narrowing.
