Tra
vel English Trivia: Interesting Facts You Might Not Know Traveling is a great way to relax, explore new places and learn about different cultures. However, while on your trip, have you ever thought about the interesting facts that surround the act of traveling? Here are some travel English trivia facts that you might not know.
1. The Word "Travel" Comes from the French Word "Travailler" The word travel might seem like a modern word, with a direct meaning to exploring the world, but actually, it comes from the French word "travailler" which means "to work". This is because in the past, traveling was considered hard work and only reserved for the wealthy and adventurers.
2. The First Recorded Female Traveler Was From Ancient Egypt While traveling today is open to both men and women, in ancient times, it was solely a male activity. However, the first recorded female traveler was from Ancient Egypt. Her name was Hatshepsut, and she traveled to the land of Punt, which is believed to be modern-day Somalia.
3. The Most Visited City in the World is Bangkok Many people would assume that Paris, London or New York are the most visited cities in the world, but actually, it is Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. In 2019, Bangkok had over 22 million visitors, making it the top destination on the planet.
4. A "Staycation" Was Invented During the Financial Crisis of 2008 One of the most used phrases in recent years is "staycation", which means to have a vacation while staying home. However, this term was actually coined during the financial crisis of 2008 when people could not afford to travel, so they opted to stay at home instead.
5. The Term "Jet Lag" Was Coined in the 1960s Jet lag is a common problem that travelers face, but many do not know that its term was coined in the 1960s when long-distance air travel became more popular. The term is used to describe the feeling of fatigue and disorientation that occurs when crossing multiple time zones.
6. The Longest Non-stop Flight is Over 18 Hours Flying long distances can be tiring, but the longest non-stop flight in the world is the flight from Singapore to New York, which takes over 18 hours. This flight is operated by Singapore Airlines and is carried out by the Airbus A350-900ULR aircraft.
7. The Most Commonly Spoken Language in the World is Mandarin Chinese There are over 7,000 languages spoken in the world, but the most commonly spoken language is Mandarin Chinese. There are over
1.2 billion native speakers of Mandarin Chinese, making it a language that is incredibly useful for travelers. In conclusion, traveling is not just about exploring new places, but it also provides an opportunity to learn about the interesting facts that surround the act of traveling. Whether it is discovering the origins of the word "travel" or learning about the first female traveler, there is always something new to learn. So, the next time you embark on a journey, keep these travel English trivia facts in mind and enrich your travel experience.