Why Every Trip Needs at Least One Wrong Turn

There’s this quote I’ve quietly held onto for years.
It’s not just a mantra — it’s been my WhatsApp status since, I think, 2021.

“You are exactly where you are supposed to be.”

I don’t remember where I first heard it, probably on some deep-scroll at 2 a.m. But it stuck. It became one of those quiet little reminders I return to when things feel... off.

Lost in life? That’s okay. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
No clue what you’re doing next? Same. Still supposed to be here.

It’s comforting, isn’t it? Like the universe whispering, “Chill, I got you bro.”

And the funny thing is — this quote hits even harder when I travel.
Because if there’s one universal truth about travelling, it’s this:

You will take a wrong turn.

Every trip I’ve taken has had that one moment. You’re walking confidently through the streets of a new city, feeling like an honorary local, only to realize you’re walking in the exact opposite direction of where you're supposed to be. Congratulations — you’ve made a wrong turn.

And,
That’s when the trip really begins.

The Perfect Itinerary Lie

Don’t get me wrong — I love a good plan. If I have time, I even create color-coded spreadsheets, download offline maps, and watch YouTube videos on “how to cross the street in Japan” (true story, it's a team sport). But travel isn’t meant to be consumed like a syllabus.

Real travel happens when your Google Maps says, “rerouting,” and your instincts say, “just go with it.”

Some of my favorite travel memories happened because I didn't follow the plan:

• Went looking for a tulip garden in Amsterdam, and ended up in a sweet Dutch grandma’s backyard. Instead of kicking me out, she offered me homemade stroopwaffels and a seat at her garden table. Never found the tulips — found something better.

• While exploring a temple in Osaka, I heard the sound of traditional drums and what sounded like Japanese shakuhachi, a traditional Japanese wind instrument. I followed the music and found myself watching a wedding procession — women in kimonos, the bride and groom looking absolutely stunning, everything calm and graceful. I had never imagined I’d witness a traditional Japanese wedding, and definitely not by accident. You can’t plan for moments like that — you just happen to be there.

• While exploring a small village near Seoul, I got lost on the way to a bus stop and stumbled upon a tiny vegan restaurant run by a kind ajumma (Korean auntie). She spoke a little English — just enough to recommend her bibimbap, which was incredible. We shared smiles and laughs, and before I left, she packed me homemade kimchi “for energy,” complete with a proud little fist pump. I even took a few photos of her — she posed like a pro.
  Pro Tip: Google Maps doesn’t work well in Korea — use Naver Map unless you want to get lost (which… honestly, might be the best part).

• Tried to find a dim sum spot in Hong Kong, but got lost in streets thick with the smell of incense, seafood, and roasted chestnuts and wandered into a tiny mahjong parlour instead. No tourists, no English — just smiles, tea, and the rhythmic clack of tiles. An old uncle waved me over, an auntie handed me a sesame cookie, and I somehow got a crash course in mahjong. Still hungry — but full in the best way.

• Tried to follow Google Maps in Istanbul, but one wrong turn dropped me into a quiet side street with no people in sight — just cats. Dozens of them, sitting on steps, fences, and windowsills, like it was their usual hangout. No tourists, no shops, just a bunch of curious stares. One came up, sniffed my shoe, and another just sat and watched. Still lost — but honestly, it turned out to be the most memorable part of the day.”

Getting Lost = Real Travel

Sure, travel guides are great. So is Google Maps. But there’s a certain kind of magic that comes from having absolutely no idea where you are, only to stumble into a place so good, so strange, or so beautiful that you can’t believe it wasn’t on any list.

It’s easy to treat travel like a checklist.
See the monument? ✔️
Try the local dish? ✔️
Post the perfect photo with the perfect caption? ✔️

But the soul of a trip isn’t in the highlights you expected — it’s in the detours you didn’t.
The wrong turns. The accidental finds. The weird little moments that don’t make sense until you’re sitting on a plane home thinking, “Wow… that actually happened.”

So next time your trip takes an unexpected turn, don’t panic. Don’t immediately try to course-correct. Pause. Look around. Talk to someone. Wander a little longer.

That’s when you realize the quote was right all along.

You really are exactly where you’re supposed to be.

Even if it’s not where you meant to go.