I did more than 50 Air BnB experiences and I loved it!!!
During this time of COVID, our entertainment options haven't been many. In the initial COVID quarantine days, I quickly realized that E-learning was something of great interest to me. From Udemy to Skillshare, I tried to explore many areas of interest and even cultivated new ones!
Recently, I was introduced to Air BnB experiences by a friend and I was hooked! I was thrilled with the very first experience itself! So far, I have done more than 50 online experiences and I wanted to share what the online world has to offer us during these bizarre times. So here are the top ten experiences on my list.
EXP 1: Exploring the graffiti work at Lodhi Gardens, Delhi
This was my first experience on Air BnB and it was quite a surprise. I am a lover of art and this experience really gave way to a lot of inspiration. The experience started with some spirited Indian music followed by a chat with a good looking young man clad in a vibrant kurta, who took us all around Lodhi Gardens in Delhi. We not only stopped at every sidewalk and corner house but also looked deeper into the graffiti in all these areas and tried to dig deeper into their meaning or what we perceived of them.
The experience had a grand finale to it where the host showed us his amazingly engaging wedding video, we all know Indian weddings can be really over the top. But you have to be a part of the experience to feel this! So go for it! https://www.airbnb.co.in/experiences/1681605
EXP 2: A meditative cello concert
This was a pleasant experience that involved listening to a Cello artist in the dark. I set the mood with some dimly lit candles and cooled down my room. Setting the mood is important in a lot of these experiences. It leads to a fuller experience, which takes you away from the four walls of your home. The songs played by the cello artist were channelized to open the various chakras of the body. All the participants made the most of the experience in their own ways, whether it was dancing while the music was being played or sketching. Overall, it was quite a “cleansing” and rejuvenating experience. https://www.airbnb.co.in/experiences/673724
EXP 3: Exploring Columbia through fruits
An exciting experience of “Exploring Columbia through fruits” really intrigued me. Surprisingly, almost all the fruits were new and exotic to me. You really start understanding how large the world is and how much you don’t know during experiences like these! The host played guessing games with me and asked me to guess what the colors of the inside of the fruit would be every time she cut one. A definite value add was the fruit-tea recipes she gave me toward the end of the experience! A truly colorful experience it was! https://www.airbnb.co.in/experiences/1713051
EXP 4: Tiny Theatre Play
This play was an interactive one which leads the guests on a murder mystery. It was up to the guests to collectively guess who the murderer could be at the end of the play. The actors were very professional and you could see the amount of effort they put in to stage the show. They also took us around their mini-studio, which was just a small room in their home where they creatively set up their costumes and digital equipment. The entire session was interactive and filled with quizzes and games. It was thrilling! https://www.airbnb.co.in/experiences/1996294
EXP 5: Exploring Ecuador
This was surprisingly one of the most complete experiences I went on. It was a 1.5-hour tour of Ecuador. I walked the streets, visited the churches, almost tasted the food, and even learned some famous Ecuadorian recipes! The experience was staged so well that it didn't feel like I was sitting across the globe watching from a distance. I was immersed in it. The host was also very cordial and friendly and made it a point to cover as much as she could about her country’s uniqueness. https://www.airbnb.co.in/experiences/1714559
EXP 6: Escape Rooms
This was another fun experience I had. Being a fan of Escape Rooms in real life, I wanted to see how it felt to digitally play this game with a group of people I never met before. The clues were challenging but to my surprise, we all worked so well as a team to quickly and efficiently solve all the puzzles! The host was extremely enthusiastic and I could see the level of planning that went behind the clues that were made. Don’t miss this! https://www.airbnb.co.in/experiences/1692296
EXP 7: Exploring Zen Temples of Kyoto, Japan
This experience kindled my senses. We were taken on a tour of the temples of Japan. Every room and shrine was like a discovery made. I could feel the peace and tranquility even though I was quite far away. Credit goes to the host who understood that experiences were not just a show of the uniqueness of the land but more of a sensorial experience that kindles the heart and soul. https://www.airbnb.co.in/experiences/1736084
EXP 8: Korean Storytelling
This was one of the most tranquil yet invigorating experiences I had. The host had a collection of old Korean storybooks that he would read out to his guests. Each story had a moral to it and a very deep meaning that transgressed into how we live as a society now. This experience was very close to my heart as the connection I had with the host was very strong, being a teacher and storyteller myself. https://www.airbnb.co.in/experiences/1706457
EXP 9: Graffiti Art in Portugal
This was one of the most insightful experiences I had. I was taken around Portugal to look at the different types of graffiti present and how many “gangster” areas were now popular tourist destinations due to their positive transformation with the help of graffiti. The key learning here was a big value add for me as I have done street art myself. I got to know more about the real meaning of graffiti art and the modes of communication of these artists across the walls of Portugal. https://www.airbnb.co.in/experiences/1701125
EXP 10: Clock Down with the Drag Queens in Portugal
I think this was one of the most interesting experiences I did. I didn’t know too much about drag queens so I really didn’t know what to expect. But the show was killer! From the costumes to the message in the story, you could see the effort put in to create such a show as well as how much the actors enjoyed playing their roles! The best part about the experience was that the participants had to dress up as “drag- like” as they could to make it more interactive! https://www.airbnb.co.in/experiences/1298501
I couldn't resist adding a few more special ones to the list….
EXP 11: Spell Making
This experience was an insight into living positively and making positive changes from within. Although it does sound like a divination class out of Harry Potter it was grounded using human psychology and works of the mind. The host did do a great job of setting the scene as a top-grade witch though with her fantastic costume and candle-lit decor. We even created our own bath salt mix during this course to be used while saying the spell created on a daily basis! https://www.airbnb.co.in/experiences/1836553
EXP 12: Red Light Area of Amsterdam
This experience was out of this world. It was an invigorating chat with a sex worker who worked in the Red Light Area of Amsterdam! I took up this experience out of curiosity. During the session, I was a little uncomfortable as the topics being talked about were beyond my comfort zone, but surprisingly by the end of it, my acceptance of the emotions and thoughts of the sex workers broadened. https://www.airbnb.co.in/experiences/1719940
EXP 13: Scavenger hunt in the gardens of Italy
This experience was one of the most fun of them all! I was lead on a digital scavenger hunt through a beautiful backyard garden of an Italian chef. The hunt allowed me to find different clues across the garden, which ultimately lead to a family recipe of the host hidden in a treasure chest, passed on from generation to generation. The hunt was refreshing and the garden was really lovely. This was a one on one experience, so deciphering the clues on my own was a lot more interesting and challenging than when done as a group! https://www.airbnb.co.in/experiences/1689997
I think the amount of knowledge I have accumulated over the last month has been more than I have over a year. I really feel the value of these experiences lies not only in the information but also in the connection we make with people across the globe during times like these as well as the inspiration it gives us to do more and be more. If you haven’t tried these, I suggest you do!!
About the writer: I’m a creative soul in search of deep connections and learning through experiences. Catch me @idea_alchemist on Instagram!