Don’t have the time to wander around the world at a leisurely pace? Having traveled to 47 countries, allow me to share my top 10 ideas on how to get the most out of any short trip.

1. Get a visual overview.
First, get the free map at the airport info desk. This map will be better than the one you have. Then find the highest place that you can go to see the lay of the land for yourself. There is just something very exhilarating from finding yourself atop the highest spot for a view, and even better if you climbed up there yourself. It can be from a hilltop, sky scraper, bell tower, bridge, helicopter, hang glider, hot air balloon, the flight in, etc.

2. Get the tourist out of your system.
Do the most embarrassing touristy stuff possible. Touristy stuff is touristy stuff because it is fun and effortless and it is a good way to get started. Don’t feel silly to take a guided tour. It will give you a quick sense of the area. Go to all the museums and rent the audio guide. So, for the guided tour, I don’t suggest riding on a luxury coach, because, with the sleep deprivation and comfy seats, you’ll be snoozing in no time. Instead, go for a walking tour, an adventure tour, or a small van tour sold at the youth hostels. The people you meet there will give you ideas of what is worth further exploration.

3. Connect with the planet.
Check out nature. Notice the moon and the new stars where you are. Notice the light, the way the clouds form, the way the wind blows, and smell of the air on this part of Earth. Play in the rain. Go barefoot. Hike around, find wildlife. (Note: Try not to get attacked by monkeys). Seek out caves with bats, gysers and rock formations. Plan activities around water and river trips are never a disappointment. Pick some flowers to decorate your room.

4. “When in Rome, do as the Romans.”
Forget about how you are used to doing things. Get out of that place you are staying. Quit thinking about your life at home. Experience a life that is not yours. Break your personal rules. Get dirty. Go with the flow. Let the plans change. Adapt. Express a different side of yourself. Don’t judge or compare their customs to yours, just do what they do. Even if it is unpleasant, endure as much of what is local as possible. Suffer a little. Deal with being tired and the hang over, the heat and the cold, the long wait, not being able to find a bathroom, the ketchup on your pizza, the blisters on your feet, the weather, the noise, the crowd, the cigarette smoke, having the craps, and just try to experience what is going on around you. Be assured that your memories will be fonder than the actual experience. Eat with your hands, experience local toilets, figure out their money, kiss as they do, bathe with a bucket, eat the local delicacy, drink the local specialties, offer in their temples, dress in their style, enjoy the music, visit the poorest neighborhoods, play with their children, and just listen to all the sounds as you walk down the street. Savor the array smells. Depend their version of caffeine and stay away from Starbucks and Pizza Hut; homesickness is no excuse.

5. Shop and collect.
Souvenirs are the best way to remember the trip and you don’t have to spend much. Avoid the tourist crap and shopping malls. Go to the biggest market where the locals meet and buy little items you have never seen before. Get the local version of a product. Start a collection of brooms for example. Get trinkets from street vendors. Don’t waste time haggling over what really amounts to be a savings of 25 cents. Bargain to get extra items if the price won't go down. Find specialized food items in the food market that will pass through customs. Take lots of pictures. Find stuff like rocks, bones, shells, flyers, confetti, ticket stubs, etc

6. Communicate.
Try to learn at least some basic words like hello/goodbye and please/thank you. Get really good at a charade style sign language and speak in very basic words. Talking louder does not make you more understandable. Let a local practice English on you. Even seek them out through language exchange programs online. Accept their offers to meet with their friends and family. Talk to people on the plane. Most likely they are from or have been to where you are going and can offer tips. Ask for directions and then confirm them frequently. Get someone to write a note with your destination or your vegetarian wishes so you don't have to play charades every time.

7. Be on the look out for adventure.
Get around and use your instinct to happen upon the interesting. Rent a bicycle or just walk around. Try every kind of transport available. If you rent a car, get out of the car frequently. Give people rides. Instead of lingering in one restaurant, go to one for drinks, one for dinner, and one for desert. Stop to watch kids play sports or builders at work. Take in sights you are not used to seeing. Visit the cemetery to pick up a sense of the history and spirit. Go in all the buildings, shrines, and monuments of religion for a sample of best architecture and art the culture has to offer.

8. Check out the nightlife.
Start off at the regional dance shows put on for tourists unless you can find the real thing. Take a peek into all the bars, until you find a place that has the right feel to it. Eat at places packed with locals. Anyone working in an internet cafe, trendy clothing store, veggie restaurant, tattoo shop, or record store will probably be able to direct you to the good places to go out. Pay attention to the flyers in these places too. Get into your dance trance with the locals. Enjoy street performers. Figure out what is unique to the area, then go try it.

9. Be safe.
You will get hassled more until you tan or have the look that you've been there for a while. Expect someone to rip you off on the first day. Read the guidebooks and take the precautions they recommend. Be careful on scooters and with drugs. Guard yourself against pick pockets, the sun, STDs, and biting insects. Learn how to avoid contaminated food and water. Don’t bring valuables. Use common sense and trust your intuition about people. Look as ordinary as possible when going through customs unless you are up for a strip search. With the way things are, a Canadian flag on your backpack might be good.

10. Make friends.
That tourist from "Anywhere USA " may not be very interesting at home, but if you haven't spoken English to anyone in days, this person is going to seem like your soul mate. Make friends with locals that you can visit again. Keep in touch by e-mails and send them pics you took on the trip. As a last resort, use the I'm-lost-with-a-map trick to start conversation.

Any more?